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.
About Fort Myers Ward 4
Ward 4 runs along the Caloosahatchee and includes much of the historic downtown River District as well as the storied royal palm-lined McGregor Boulevard and its surrounding corridor. The ward’s population is 14,314 and its median age of 47.7 makes it the city’s oldest.
Each councilperson is elected by registered voters in his/her respective ward, and the winner of the non-partisan race will hold office for four years until 2028 and earn $47,0300 a year: $32,630 in salary plus a $14,400 stipend.
Both candidates received questionnaires from The News-Press. Banyai’s answers were edited for length. Bochette sent a bullet-point response email, from which his answers were compiled, then edited for length and clarity.