When the Fort Myers Beach Town Council meets Monday Rebecca Link will be sworn in and take the seat previously occupied by Karen Woodson. Link received 9 more votes than Tom Brady in Woodson’s recall election on November 4th after residents voted overwhelmingly to recall Woodson and John King.
King will remain in his seat until the appeal filed by former Council member Bill Veach is decided. Judge Kyle Cohen ruled that one of the 3 accusations on King’s recall petition did not meet the criteria as outlined in the state statute on recall elections. He also ruled King could retain his seat until the appeal was decided even if he lost the recall vote. Veach appealed Cohen’s ruling.
If Veach loses his appeal, King retains his seat until his term expires next year. If Veach wins his appeal, Tom Brady will take King’s seat at the next Town COuncil meeting after the ruling.
Last Tuesday, 63.6% of the voters chose yes on the recall ballot for Woodson and 63% of the voters chose yes on the recall for King. Nearly 50% of eligible voters cast a ballot in the recall.
Both King and Woodson have vehemently denied all the accusations made against them in the recall and have filed defamation lawsuits against Veach and former Mayor Ray Murphy, the co-chairs of the recall committee. The accusations included violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law and accepting gifts from developers with business before the Town Council.
Woodson has also appealed her case but Cohen did find the three accusations did fit the criteria in the state statute. The judge did not have the authority to rule on the innocence or guilt of King and Woodson. His only role was to decide if the criteria in the state statute was met or not
Link will serve one year in the seat before it is up for election in November 2026. King’s seat is also up in 2026. Town Council terms are 4 years.
Is Atterholt next?
Let’s hope not. I’d hate to see someone concoct unfair and untrue accusations to qualify for yet anther costly and unnecessary recall.
Why would anyone vehemently stay given the Voter turnout –
Step aside !!!!
GREAT! Now it will be another 5 years until developers even begin looking at a substantial rebuild of the island. No worries though – by that time the town council will have turned-over a few times and another hurricane will visit us to wipe-out any progress made in the meantime. Stay tuned.
Sanibel seems to do just fine sticking to its comp plan and not allowing any deviations.
Mark it down. Nov. 4, 2025.
An historic day in Lee County.
For the first time in 74 years two Lee County incumbents were recalled from office. Kicked out. Shown the door.
Regardless of what happens in King’s appeal the message was clear, underscored on 63 percent of the ballots: You’re not wanted.
Is it a mandate to stop the trend toward greater density and skyscrapper condos that popular and protected community vision rejects? You’re damn right it is. Denying that is folly. Sixty-three percent of those ballots in a historically average island turnout screamed stop.
When they don’t represent their constituents and vote completely opposite of them, it’s time to go. Ask yourself, why vote against the comp plan? And…Without any significant compromise that their constituents might gain? Water under the bridge since they were recalled. We might not be savvy investors(as was touted by a developer) but we are savvy voters!
If someone can just make up allegations against a sitting council member and get them recalled, without having to provide any evidence, what stops someone from doing it to Link or Brady!!!!!!
Having to get 15% of the registered voters to publicly sign a recall petition is a fairly high bar.
..and then get more than 50% of votes to say yes to recall. The vast majority of states don’t even require a reason at all, and recall is just as rare.
Truly, upsetting the electorate this badly is a very rare occurrence. They should both be ashamed of their selfish actions that caused this much division on the beach.
John and Karen both affirmed their support for the Comp plan, then approved everything that came before the council. I sent both emails in opposition to Seagate and was met with silence. At least Scott changed his vote. If it comes before Council again( a real possibility), will he still vote “no”when it matters?
I think so. I was impressed that he did truly listen to what was being said by the community.
I get the feeling he would grant them a variance, but based on his comments at the end, it it would need to be more reasonable.
Something we all agree on.
You have to ask that of Dan too. He voted last and he voted no but next time his vote could be the deciding vote IF he changes his mind and changes his vote from NO to YES. We have to keep in tune with this and communicate with the Mayor. He can’t change his vote “next time” and have that be accepted.
Welcome Rebecca and good-bye Karen.
John should resign, it is obvious his constituents voted him out in blowout fashion. He should not be allowed to vote on anymore items (big or small) that come up in front of town council. Again, the majority of his constituents do not want him there.
Ditto !
Agree 100%. But then, when has king ever listened to his constituents…