By: Katrina Salokar, East Lee County News
In the heart of one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties, a decades-long fight for fairer, more accountable local government has reached a turning point.
For more than 75 years, Lee County’s five county commissioners have been elected in countywide (at-large) races—even though each commissioner represents a distinct geographic district. Critics say that system has repeatedly diluted the voices of local communities, allowed money and influence from other districts to sway elections, and made it nearly impossible to hold commissioners accountable to the voters they’re meant to serve.
Now, thanks to persistent public pressure, a groundswell of bipartisan support, and decisive action by state lawmakers, Lee County voters will have the final say in 2026.
A History Rooted in Suppression
The problem of at-large elections in local government isn’t unique to Lee County—it has deep historical roots across the country.
Through the Jim Crow era, many states adopted at-large election systems that effectively diluted the voting power of minority and rural communities. Court rulings over the last century have repeatedly affirmed that these systems were designed to suppress representation, not broaden it.
The at-large system was imposed on us in 1947, when the population of Lee County was less than 25,000. Despite explosive growth to over 800,000 residents accompanied by increasingly complex needs, the system has remained unchanged.
Reform Efforts That Fell Short
Voters and citizen committees have repeatedly tried to change the system, but each effort stumbled due primarily to backroom political interference from county commissioners and their closest supporters who would lose control under the district-based model. In most cases, the reforms were never even allowed to make it to the ballot.
Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell has been blunt in his critique of these failures, calling the county’s charter review process a “paper tiger” and arguing that “the deck is stacked,” as he wrote in a December 2024 editorial, urging the state legislature to step in and let the voters decide once and for all.
Legislative Action Changes the Game
In a rare show of unity, the Lee County Legislative Delegation responded in early 2025. In January, the delegation voted 6–1 to advance a local bill that would put a single-member district system on the 2026 general election ballot.
That bill—HB 4001—proposes a straightforward change: beginning with the 2028 election cycle, county commissioners would be elected only by the voters in their district, not countywide. Similar models are already in place for Florida’s state legislators, school boards, and many city councils.
The bill passed overwhelmingly in the Florida House (94–11) and unanimously in the Senate (36–0). On July 18, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 4001 into law, officially placing the issue on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
The Referendum Question
The ballot will read:
“Shall the method of electing members of the Board of County Commissioners of Lee County, Florida be changed from countywide voting to single-member district voting, where each commissioner is nominated and elected only by the voters in the district they represent?”
A YES vote supports the transition to single-member district elections, making commissioners accountable only to the voters within their district.
A NO vote keeps the current at-large system, allowing all county voters to vote in every commission race.
Why It Matters
Supporters of the reform say this is a matter of simple fairness: If a commissioner is going to represent District 3, for example, only the voters in District 3 should elect that person. Under the current system, voters in the other district areas can outvote the residents of the actual district and effectively impose the commissioner on them. Caldwell and others have noted that nearly 40% of contested commission elections since 1980 have produced outcomes where the district’s choice lost due to outside votes.
Switching to single-member districts, supporters argue, would:
– Make commissioners more accountable to their constituents
– Lower the cost of running for office, allowing more diverse candidates to compete
– Improve transparency and trust in local government
– Reduce the influence of out-of-district special interests
What’s Next
Between now and November 2026, both sides are expected to mount campaigns.
Opponents—many of them current or former elected officials—are likely to warn against “outside interference” or claim the changes could weaken countywide unity.
Supporters, including civic organizations like the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, and the Southwest Florida Business Alliance, are already organizing town halls, registering voters, and preparing a broad educational campaign to make sure voters understand what’s at stake.
As Caldwell recently wrote:
“This is about putting voters back in charge of their government. Nothing more, nothing less.”
How to Get Involved
Residents who support the change can:
– Join outreach efforts led by civic groups
– Attend public forums and legislative updates
– Volunteer to register and educate voters ahead of 2026
– Share materials and spread awareness in your community
– Most importantly, VOTE YES on the 2026 referendum
To stay informed and get involved as the issue progresses, visit www.swflba.com and sign up for updates from the Southwest Florida Business Alliance. You’ll receive alerts about upcoming meetings, community events, volunteer opportunities, and voter education tools.
After nearly eight decades of debate, the decision will finally rest where it belongs—with the people. In 2026, Lee County voters have the opportunity to vote YES for fair representation, district accountability, and local democracy.
