To help you fill out your Election 2024 ballot , The News-Press has questioned dozens of candidates about their qualifications and stances on issues for state and local races in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Spring, Fort Myers Beach and Lee County.

For the first time in decades, Lee voters will choose a superintendent ; a surprise write-in candidate qualified in the Lee Sheriff's race in June and has stirred thing up with serious allegations; five Florida House seats that represent parts of Lee County are on the ballot. And those are just some of the local choices voters are making in addition to deciding on the next President of the United States .

Here's your voter's guide to those candidates, info on six proposed Florida Constitutional Amendments , plus other helpful intel before you cast your ballot. Click on the candidate links to read how they answered our questions.

Important election 2024 dates in Lee County

U.S. Congress District 19: Byron Donalds vs. Kari Lerner

Naples Republican Congressman Byron Donalds has a Democratic challenger for his District 19 seat. The two-term incumbent banker is facing Cape Coral Realtor Kari Lerner. Lerner has held public office before. In 2017, she became Rockingham, District 4 State Representative in New Hampshire, a post no Democrat had held in more than a century.

The Tea Party-forged Donalds is a rising GOP star, a self-described "Black MAGA patriot," who's "President Trump’s strongest supporter in Congress." Over the past year or so, there's been much high-level speculation about Donalds' future , from the possibility of the Speaker of the House seat, to whether he'd be a Trump VP pick, to mentions as a potential gubernatorial candidate.

Some 809,000 people live in the 674-square-mile district, which covers portions of Lee and Collier counties and stretches from north Cape Coral to the Ten Thousand Islands in Collier and includes Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero and Southwest Florida barrier islands.

U.S. Congress District 17: Manny Lopez vs. Greg Steube

District 17 mostly covers Sarasota and Charlotte County, but includes a small piece of north Lee County.

In this race, former educator Manny Lopez faces an uphill battle as he challenges Rep. Greg Steube, who has represented Sarasota in Congress since 2018. One of Trump’s most vocal allies in the House, Steube has never received less than 62% of a vote share since he first ran for Congress.

Lopez's campaign highlights familiar themes for the Democrats in 2024: Abortion rights, protection of Social Security and Medicare, and economic development focused on the middle class. His website offers translation in English, Spanish and Ukrainian.

Steube , a veteran of the U.S. Army JAG Corps, is a former Florida state representative and state senator. He regularly appears on TV advocating for Trump. He touts a pro-life, pro-second amendment platform and takes a hard-right stance on illegal immigration.

Florida Senate District 33: Jonathan Martin vs. Chrisopher Proia

Representing more than half a million residents in Lee County, the district covers the coastal communities of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel to areas east of Interstate 75. As the district grows, key issues such as development, water quality and broader legislative matters such as education, abortion and the state budget are central to the race.

Incumbent Jonathan Martin, an attorney and current chairman of the Lee County Republican Party, has served in the State Senate since 2022. He is known for his leadership on the Criminal Justice Committee and his involvement with Florida Southwestern State College’s Board of Trustees. His opponent, Christopher Proia, is running as a working-class advocate with a platform focused on progressive reforms.

Florida Senate District 27: Ben Albritton vs. Phil Carter

In District 27, incumbent Ben Albritton, the Republican candidate, is facing off against upstart Democratic candidate Phil Carter. Albritton, an agribusiness owner, has served in the Florida House and Senate since 2010. Carter, new to politics, is a former law enforcement professional and U.S. Air Force servicemember.

The district covers Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee counties, as well as parts of Lee and Polk counties. State senate terms last four years and the position pays just under $30,000 annually, per state records.

Florida House District 76: Jim Blue vs. Vanessa Oliver

With no incumbent running, Florida's House seat for District 76 is wide open this election year. The district includes Arcadia, Punta Gorda and North Fort Myers.

Democrat Jim Blue and Republican Vanessa Oliver — both Punta Gorda residents — will compete in the November election for the seat vacated by incumbent Republican Spencer Roach , who dropped out of the 2024 race in April.

Oliver beat Republican Steven Ceracche in the primary . Both Oliver and Blue vow to tackle pocketbook issues, such as rising insurance costs, and focus on water quality. Oliver is opposed to Amendment 3, the recreational marijuana initiative, and the Amendment 4 abortion rights initiative. Blue takes the opposite stance.

Florida House District 77: Esposito, Fowler and Krakow

Three contenders are vying for this Florida House seat, which represents a swath of communities and includes: Alva, Buckingham, part of south Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres and San Carlos Park.

Issues in the district range from growth management and planning to septic-to-sewer needs and transportation infrastructure. State representatives also have a say in issues such as abortion, recreational marijuana, education policy and the state budget.

Florida House District 78: Jenna Persons-Mulicka vs. Howard Sapp

Republican incumbent Jenna Persons-Mulicka and Democratic challenger Howard Lee Sapp are set to compete for the Florida House District 78 seat . The district covers the City of Fort Myers and parts of Lee County, representing a population of nearly 180,000.

Persons-Mulicka, a Fort Myers attorney , has served in the Florida House since 2020 and is running for reelection. She serves on several committees, including health and human services. Her opponent, Howard Lee Sapp, a retired air traffic controller and Fort Myers native, ran for the first time in 2022. Both candidates are vying for the opportunity to represent District 78 for a two-year term.

Florida House District 79: Mike Giallombardo vs. Denise McCleary

Two Cape Coral military veterans are competing to represent District 79 in the Florida House of Representatives. The district includes the Cape, Matlacha and other parts of Lee County.

Incumbent Mike Giallombardo will battle Democrat Denise McCleary in the Nov. 5 general election. Both ran unopposed in Florida's August primary election.

Florida House District 80: Adam Botana vs. Mitchel Schlayer

The District 80 race for Florida state rep pits Republican incumbent Adam Botana against Democrat Mitchel Schlayer, both of Bonita Springs, and write-in candidate Patrick Post of Naples.

The district covers Sanibel, Pine Island, the town of Fort Myers Beach, the Lee County tip of Boca Grande, major parts of Estero and Bonita and a sliver of adjacent Collier County, generally west of the Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard intersection to the Gulf of Mexico.

Botana shared his responses to our questions about abortion, marijuana, the environment and other issues. Schlayer did not respond.

Lee County Sheriff: Mike Hollow vs. Carmine Marceno

Lee County's top cop Sheriff Carmine Marceno faces one challenger in the November General Election as he seeks another term.

Michael Hollow, a former Internal Affairs lieutenant with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, qualified June 10 to run as a write-in candidate against Marceno. Because he is a write-in, his name will not appear on the ballot.

Hollow has made allegations of corruption against Marceno the cornerstone of his campaign and says the FBI is investigating Marceno. Marceno has called the allegations baseless and untrue, saying they are politically motivated. The FBI will neither confirm nor deny it is investigating. Marceno has not been charged with a crime.

When then-Sheriff Mike Scott left the position in 2018, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Marceno. He was elected sheriff in 2020, with landslides first in the primary with 69% of the vote and then in the general with 67%.

Hollow answered questions about the race . Marceno did not respond.

Lee County School Superintendent: Victor Arias vs. Denise Carlin

For the first time since the 1970s, voters are being asked to cast their vote for the superintendent of the Lee County School District. The winner will earn a salary of more than $250,000 for supervising the 33rd-largest school district in the nation, managing a budget of $2.6 billion and roughly 13,000 employees.

Lifelong Lee County educator and Republican Denise Carlin is facing off against Cape Coral-based personal injury attorney and Democrat Victor Arias.

Lee School Board District 7: Vanessa Chaviano vs. Sheridan Chester

Because no candidate running for the Lee School Board District 7 seat secured more than 50% of the vote in the August primary , Sheridan Chester and Vanessa Chaviano will compete in a runoff Nov. 5. The seat is one of seven on the school board, which sets policies and rules for the district's administration. Each board member serves the entire Lee County School District, not just the area where they reside. The position comes with a four-year term and a salary of just over $40,000 annually.

Chester , a long-time substitute teacher and community advocate, focused her campaign on teacher retention, fair wages and advocating for better communication within schools. Chaviano emphasized strategic planning for the district’s growth, enhancing school safety and boosting teacher recruitment through competitive salaries and benefits.

Unlike the superintendent's race, this a non-partisan contest.

Lee County Commission District 3: Mulicka presumed winner

The Lee County District 3 race has effectively come down to one option after David Mulicka won the Republican primary Aug. 20 against his opponent Matthew Thornton. Mulicka, a local business owner, advanced to the general election Nov. 5, where he faces write-in candidate Jake Cataldo. However, Cataldo’s status as a “ghost” candidate, who has not campaigned and whose name won’t appear on the ballot, means voters would need to write in his name — leaving Mulicka as the presumed, de facto winner.

While Lee County commissioners run within districts, they are elected at-large, meaning all registered voters in the county can cast a ballot in this race.

➤Ghost candidate? What does that mean?

Lee County Commission District 5: Kizzie Fowler vs. Mike Greenwell

After fending off fellow Republican challenger Amanda Cochran in the primary, incumbent Lee County Commissioner Mike Greenwell now faces Democrat Kizzie Fowler in the general election.

When the rural-though-fast-growing District 5’s longtime Commissioner Frank Mann died in 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Greenwell to the post, which he went on to win in the next election. Greenwell is the current commission chairman.

Commissioners must live in the district they represent, but they are elected at large.

Fowler is from Pahokee and says she would advocates for smart development, affordable housing and traffic management. She answered The News-Press' questions about her candidacy. Greenwell did not.

Cape Coral City Council races: Five seats on the ballot

Five of seven city council seats are on the ballot in Cape Coral, where some in the electorate are peeved about the current council's actions, especially giving themselves a raise in the form of a monthly stipend that doubled their salaries.

These are non-partisan races and, and while prospective councilors run in a district, they are elected at large. Any registered voter in Cape Coral can cast a ballot in the council races.

Cape Coral City Council District 2: Laurie Lehman vs. Dan Sheppard

The Cape Coral District 2 City Council race pits incumbent Dan Sheppard against challenger Laurie Lehmann. District 2 includes southwest Cape Coral, one of seven districts in the city.

In the three-way primary in August, Lehmann took more than 40% of the vote, garnering 10,789 votes. Her next-closest opponent, Sheppard, took home 32% of the vote; 8,608 people cast their votes for him.

Lehmann is a retired registered nurse who has been active with the Save Jaycee Park group , which has vehemently argued against redevelopment of the beloved park. Sheppard is a businessman who owns Palm Source Pine Island, which grows and sells palms to U.S. and Bahamas landscape firms. He was elected to the council in 2020.

Cape Coral Council District 3: Derrick Donnell vs. Deborah McCormick

The Cape Coral District 3 City Council race pits Derrick Donnell against Deborah McCormick to replace incumbent Tom Hayden, who did not seek reelection.

District 3 includes the east quadrant of mid-Cape Coral.

In the District 3 August primary among four candidates , Donnell and McCormick had the most votes, sending them to the general. Donnell took top honors at 32% or 8,409 votes cast for him; McCormick trailed slightly at just under 30% or 7,757 votes cast for him.

Cape Coral City Council District 4: Richard Carr vs. Jennifer Nelson

In Cape Coral's race for City Council District 4 , voters will encounter two familiar faces at the ballot box. Former councilmember Jennifer Nelson is hoping to regain the seat she lost by just two points to ousted member Patty Cummings in 2022. Meanwhile, Richard Carr, who was appointed to the seat when Cummings was removed under suspicion of election fraud (which she recently plead guilty to) is hoping to hold on to the seat he has occupied for less than a year.

Carr and Nelson were the top two vote-getters in the August primary among four candidates. Nelson won 35% of the vote, snagging 9,089 votes and outpacing her fellow District 4 contenders. Carr came in a second, with 25% of the vote, or 6,833.

Cape Coral City Council District 5: Joseph Kilraine vs. Charlie Pease

The Cape Coral District 5 City Council race pits Joseph Kilraine against Charlie Pease to replace incumbent Robert Welsh, who lost in the primaries.

Kilraine is a 20-year Cape resident with 45 years of business experience. Pease is a career-long educator (teacher, assistant principal, principal) who is director of Cape Technical College.

District 5 includes the west quadrant of mid-Cape Coral, one of seven districts in the city.

In the District 5 Cape Coral City Council primary, Pease and Kilraine had the most votes, sending them to the general election ballot: Pease with 34%, or 9,004 votes, and Kilraine, with 32%, or 8,468 votes .

Cape Coral City Council District 7: Michael Harper vs. Rachel Kaduck

In District 7 of the Cape Coral City Council, two newcomers have thrown their hats in the ring for the position. Lifelong Cape resident and local loan officer Rachel Kaduk put herself forward this spring, as has local business owner and loan officer Michael Harper.

The district covers the northeast part of the city.

Incumbent council member Jessica Cosden isn't running. She has reached the limit of two consecutive terms served.

Fort Myers Council Ward 2: Diana Giraldo vs. Jacquelyn McMiller

It’s down to a runoff in Fort Myers City Council’s Ward 2 , after no one got more than 50% of the primary votes, though candidate Diana Giraldo was close. The architect earned 48.97% of the nonpartisan vote, followed by Jacquelyn McMiller , with 27.58%. Chanetta Campbell-Brunson had 23.45% but the runoff is between the top two.

Giraldo and McMiller are competing to fill the seat of long-serving Councilman Johnny Streets, who’s retiring.

Giraldo says she'll prioritize infrastructure, economic growth and inspring a vision for the city. McMiller has lived in the ward for most of her life. She owns a small minority consulting business. Her priorities are infrastructure, housing, smart growth and development.

Fort Myers Council Ward 4: Cindy Banyai vs Lin Bochette

Cindy Banyai is challenging incumbent Liston “Lin” Bochette for the Fort Myers City Council Ward 4 seat. Though Banyai hasn’t run for council before, she’s no political newcomer, having taken on Byron Donalds in the previous two U.S. Congressional District 19 races.

Banyai is a business owner who teaches in FGCU's department of political science and public administration.

Athlete, artist, teacher and civic leader Liston (Lin) Bochette III is defending the seat. Appointed to the post in 2018 after Councilman Mike Flanders left to take over the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Bochette won the seat in 2020.

Fort Myers parks bond referendum

City of Fort Myers voters will decide whether the city should float $75 million in bonds for parks improvements.

There are about 100,000 people living in Fort Myers, and homeowners with a taxable property value of $250,000 would pay approximately $86 per year for the parks and green space upgrades, according to the city.

This project would pay for the design and upgrade of 18 existing parks and facilities over a 10-year period.

Fort Myers Beach Town Council: Allers, Atterholt, Safford, Scasny

Four candidates face off over three at-large seats on the Fort Myers Beach Town Council.

Three incumbents and one newcomer are running for the non-partisan seats, which govern the hurricane-battered island town of about 6,000.

The three candidates with the most votes in the Nov. 5 election win the seats. The candidates are Mayor Dan Allers, Councilmen Jim Atteholt and Scott Safford and beach resident Greg Scasny.

Bonita Springs Mayor: Four candidates face off

Four candidates are vying for the mayoral seat in Bonita Springs , with all registered and eligible voters in the city able to participate in the at-large race during the Nov. 5 general election. The mayor's position comes with an annual salary of $26,582, and the officeholder can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.

The candidates include incumbent Rick Steinmeyer, who has served since 2020, alongside challengers Derrick Botana, Ruth Condit and Mike Gibson. Key issues shaping this year's election include managing sustainable growth, addressing infrastructure improvements to mitigate flooding and preparing Bonita Springs for future disasters.

Bonita Springs City Council District 2: Jesse Pudon vs. Zach Smith

Bonita Springs City Councilman Jesse Purdon hopes to be reelected. He faces political newcomer Zach Smith, a local business owner, in the district race. Purdon was first elected in 2020 ― in a special election. Then reelected nine months later. Smith, a former teacher, opened Ceremony Brewing in downtown Bonita three years ago.

District 2 covers much of the Bonita Springs neighborhoods between Old 41 Road and Interstate 75.

Bonita Springs City Council District 6: Jim Fitzpatrick vs. Carolyn Forbes

Two newcomers are vying for this seat: Jim Fitzpatrick and Carolyn Forbes . The winner would replace Fred Forbes , who could not seek reelection due to term limits.

Fitzpatrick is a retired banker, who had second and third careers as a financial adviser and a business owner. His opponent is the wife of Fred Forbes. She worked in customer service for more than 30 years.

District 6 encompasses land east of Interstate 75 to the city line and some neighborhoods along Bonita Beach Road west of the interstate.

Six Florida constitutional amendments on 2024 ballot

Lee County, Florida vote-by-mail status

Where to drop off vote-by-mail ballots in Lee County, Florida

Ballots can also be hand delivered to a Secure Ballot Intake Station any early voting location during the early voting period.

Lee County election 2024: When and where is early voting?

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Monday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 2

Election Day voting in Lee County

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.