Every year at this time the Fort Myers Beach Town Council has to “reorganize.” That means picking a new Mayor, Vice Mayor and Committee Assignments.
Dan Allers has been the Mayor for the last 3 years and is likely to be appointed again to the post by his fellow council members. Current Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt, who has also held that position for the last 3 years, has told his colleagues it’s time for him to pass the Vice Mayor baton. That means the council will vote in John King, Scott Safford or newly elected council member Rebecca Link.
Link will be officially sworn in on Monday after receiving 9 more votes than Tom Brady in the recall election of Karen Woodson and King earlier this month. King is able to retain his seat until former Council member Bill Veach’s appeal is ruled on. Residents also voted to recall King, however, a judge ruled Veach’s recall petition did not meet the criteria set forth in the state’s recall statute. Veach appealed that ruling and the judge stayed King’s results until the Appeals Court rules.
If the Appeals Court denies the Veach appeal, King retains his seat until November 2026 when that seat is up. If Veach wins the appeal, Tom Brady takes King’s seat at the first Town Council meeting after the ruling is filed. The Woodson seat, to be occupied by Link starting Monday, is also up next November.