The Lee Board of County Commissioners has appointed Chairman Kevin Ruane to Chair the Tourist Development Council. Ruane, who is District 1 Commissioner, was named BoCC chairman on Nov. 19 replacing Mike Greenwell. He replaces Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass as the TDC Chair
Ruane was first elected to the BoCC in November 2020 after serving as the Mayor of Sanibel for more than a decade. In 2024 he ran unopposed for his second term as District 1 Commissioner. After Hurricane Ian, Commissioner Ruane was appointed by his fellow commissioners to chair the Lee County Long-term Recovery Task Force.
A longtime Southwest Floridian, Ruane had visited Sanibel for 20 years before purchasing a home in 2004. Hurricane Charley quickly turned his attention to becoming a public servant. He signed on as a member of the Damage Assessment Team in Sanibel.
Ruane was appointed to the Sanibel City Council to serve an interim position in February 2007. In May 2007, he was elected and reelected in March 2009 and was appointed Mayor in March
2010. He was subsequently reelected in 2013 and 2017.
While with the City of Sanibel, Ruane served as a TDC member for about 7 years.