Commissioner Frank Mann

Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann passed away this morning.

Mann, 80, was the District 5 representative and a lifelong resident of Lee County. Mann’s career in public service began in 1974, when he served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives and four years in the Florida Senate, representing Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties.

He then served two different times as a Lee County Commissioner.

He was first appointed to the Lee County Commission in 1993 by then-Gov. Lawton Chiles to replace Vickie Lopez-Wolfe, who resigned. His second tenure on the elected board began in 2006. Through the years, he served as chairman of the Lee County Commission, the Lee County Port Authority and Tourist Development Council.

His priority during his career in public service was the preservation of quality of life in the face of almost overwhelming growth.

“Commissioner Mann was a tireless advocate for his district,” said Commission Chairman Cecil Pendergrass at the County Commissioner meeting this day morning.

Pendergrass talked about Mann’s involvement with a recent Conservation 20/20 acquisition in Lehigh Acres – in the heart of Mann’s district – that will help mitigate flooding in East Lee County and bring amenities such as a trail system, paddle craft area, pavilions and restrooms. A motion was approved for the 624.91-acre site to be named “Frank Mann Preserve.”

Mann’s son, Frank Mann Jr., said a green space in his father’s name is a most appropriate memorialization.

“I don’t believe it’s any coincidence dad leaving us on the same day (the Commission) have chosen to honor him with this most appropriate of honors,” Mann Jr. said. “If there was one overarching theme of his entire public service career, it was to maintain and enhance the quality of life here in Lee County by protecting and preserving the beauty that he enjoyed since his times a boy riding horses and running cattle where Cape Coral City Hall sits right now.”

Mann Jr. said he had talked to his father in the days before his passing, and wanted to pass along the message of how much the naming of the preserve meant to him.

Mann Jr. said his father reiterated, “‘Please let them know how very much this means to me and how much I appreciate it. And please also let the Commissioners know that (I’ll) be watching them.'”

Mann Jr. added that his father thoroughly enjoyed his time with the County Commission, and being a colleague to hundreds of dedicated county staff that make everything possible.

“That was the real honor of his life, and he wanted (everyone) to know that,” Mann Jr. said.

Commissioner Brian Hamman said he remembers how hard Mann fought for the preserve property (GS-10) and how fitting it is that the area will now be named in his memory.

“I’ll never forget him saying that his vision was to see grandfathers and grandchildren out there fishing together and enjoying the land,” Hamman said. “I’m going to miss him, and it has been a joy to sit next to him for the last couple of years.

“He was the real-life Lorax; the person who looked out for the trees and the environment, and this is a truly a fitting way to recognize and remember him.”

A friend and former colleague of Mann, Porter Goss, said, “Frank was a great friend (and) a wonderful mentor. What you have done here to help preserve a legacy, which is going to be preserved in so many ways and benefit so many people over the years, for the things he’s done and his public service, is something very much on my heart.”

Another former colleague of Mann’s during his time in the state House of Representatives and Senate, Pat Neal, spoke of some of Mann’s accomplishments in those settings.

Neal said that Mann worked tirelessly for land acquisition for the citizens of Lee County and helped create the Conservation and Recreational Lands (CARL) program.

Neal said Mann was a massive advocate for manatees, as well as the Florida panther, and helped pen legislation to protect the species. Neal said he worked on the Wetlands Act in 1983 and Hazardous Waste Protection Act.

“Every important environmental legislation that was passed in the Florida Senate had Frank Mann as a sponsor, creator, or pest to try to make sure we were doing what we needed to save Florida.”

Neal discussed how in 1986, Mann was his party’s nominee for Lt. Governor of Florida and throughout his career, had run for 17 public offices.

“He was relentless and indefatigable,” Neal said. “People loved Frank. He believed in what he believed. He stood up for what he believed. He was a servant to the people of this state and to Lee County. We’ll miss him for the person he (was), but we’ll live on with him for all that he’s done for the people of Lee County.”

Mann and his wife, Mary Lee celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on the first of the month. Mann enjoyed spoiling his three grandchildren. He was an active member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church. As part of his church activities, he had been a choir member for over 50 years and also played baritone horn in the church orchestra.

Services are planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.

The video of the portion of the Lee County Commission meeting devoted to Mann’s passing may be found at https://youtu.be/7ZALEuiLmdI .