The Lee County Board of Commissioners approved Wednesday a resolution opposing the proposed bills on the Lee County Legislative Delegation’s Thursday meeting agenda that would establish single-member districts and a change to an elected county mayor form of government in a 3-2 vote during a special meeting. 

The meeting was called by Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, who described the importance of opposition to the proposed changes as critical to the county’s future. Commissioners Brian Hamman and Kevin Ruane were the dissenting votes. 

A letter was sent and delivered to the delegation from the commissioners before 5 p.m. Monday, signed by the newly appointed Chairman Mike Greenwell. 

“The way I look at it is it’s more government, it’s more money,” Greenwell said of the proposed bills. “It makes no sense to change something that’s working very well.” 

A proposed bill introduced by state Rep. Mike Giallombardo would shift the executive responsibilities from the five commissioners and an appointed county manager, who works at the direction of the board, to a single elected mayor.  

This proposal was initially addressed at a special meeting Oct. 24, where commissioners voted to send a letter to the delegation, opposing any future legislation related to an elected county mayor. 

Former county manager Roger Desjarlais said the proposed “strong mayor” position is notorious for rewarding political allies and advocated for the current council manager form of government.  

“Council manager form of government was created in the 1920s, and it was created to combat corruption,” he said.  

The current elected governing board collectively creates a community vision and policies necessary for success, which then hires a nonpolitical, highly trained and experienced professional to implement the vision and policy, manage the day-to-day operations, service delivery, budgeting, finance and staffing, while remaining accountable to the commission, Desjarlais said. 

While many residents spoke in favor of Pendergrass’ motion of opposition, there were few who spoke in support of a proposed bill introduced by state Rep. Adam Botana, which would establish single-member districts.  

Currently, all voting residents of Lee County can vote on all commissioner positions, whether the commissioners live in a voter’s respective district or not, known as at-large elections. The new proposal would change the county to single-member districts, in which only the chair and mayor would be elected on a county-wide basis. 

County resident Randy Chris said the current at-large, elected county commissioners model is in the residents’ best interest. “Voting for two at large on a seven-member board means four of those guys can tell me to go pound sand, and they don’t care because I can’t vote for them,” he said. 

Residents opposing the proposed bills pushed the narrative of if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. They also stated if the voters wanted a change, they would have asked for it. 

Many opposing the proposal referenced the county’s home-rule charter, which county voters approved in 1996. 

Those who spoke in favor said at-large districts disenfranchised the county voters. 

Additionally, the charter form of government decision in the late ’90s kickstarted the discussion of the power to choose remaining with the voters. Hamman said the electorate has changed its minds on other topics since 1996, including term limits and the county’s school board model.  

“When the voters got a chance to vote in 2022 on if they wanted an elected executive over their school district, they approved it 62% to 38%,” Hamman said. “I firmly believe that if this ever gets in front of the voters, they’re going to go that way and I always will support their right to have their say on the structure of their government.” 

This was Hamman’s second time opposing a written letter to the delegation about proposed bills, calling it nothing but political theater.  

“It’s meaningless,” he said. “The delegation’s not going to do anything in response to the letter. So, I don’t like wasting everybody’s time.” 

Ruane also opposed writing to the delegation and again stressed the importance of staying focused on prioritizing the county’s recovery from Hurricane Ian. 

Both bills would require referenda, which could be held Nov. 5, 2024. If approved, a special election for county mayor would be held Nov. 3, 2026.