Amy Bennett Williams
Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
Amanda Cochran says she’s never been one to grouse without pitching in to help. That’s what spurred the Alva businesswoman, lifelong Republican and pastor’s daughter to run for Lee County Commission, starting with the Aug. 20 primary followed by the general election Nov. 5:
“My mom taught me you don’t get to complain unless you’re willing to be part of the solution.”
The problem, as Cochran sees it, is a County Commission that serves monied interests over the electorate.
The solution would look like Lee County following its own rules about how it will develop as it grows, she says. And it would look like county government being transparent and easily accessible to the citizens it belongs to she says.
Cochran became alarmed a few years ago as she watched commissioners allowing development in rural areas contrary to the county’s comprehensive plan and despite widespread opposition by area residents, she says. Though she owns large tracts of land (her husband is real estate broker Darius Cochran), she’s made it a point to tell audiences she would separate that from official decision making. “I would never put anything before that commission that would be undue influence on my constituents and my colleagues that I’m personally invested in,” she said at a recent candidate forum. “Because while it may be legal, it’s not right.”
Who’s running in the District 5 election?
Cochran is challenging incumbent Mike Greenwell, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 after the death of the district’s longtime Commissioner Frank Mann. Also vying for the position is Olga’s Kizzie Fowler, but as the only Demo-crat, Fowler will not be in the Aug. 20 primary.
In a recent Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce straw poll conducted by the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, Cochran beat Greenwell, with 55.7% of the vote (he got 38.9 and Fowler got 6.7).
District 5 campaign finance: A snapshot
As of Aug. 3, Cochran the fundraising leader with $179,551. Greenwell has$174,110 and Fowler has $20,457.14.
Cochran’s donations are almost entirely from individuals and small businesses. Greenwell’s include many from local law enforcement, big names in real estate development and mostly Tallahassee-based political action commit-tees: Friends of Kevin Ruane, Boat-washers for Botana, A Bold Florida Future, Homegrown Values, Building Flor-ida’s Future and Freedom First Committee, with most maxing out the$1,000 limit.
Greenwell, did not respond to repeat-ed calls, emails and requests to his campaign manager, Terry Miller, to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Here are Cochran’s answers to our questions:
Tell us about your family, growing up and early life.
Lee County runs six generations in my family. My great, great-uncle was a pioneer who developed land in East Fort Myers in 1910. My maternal great grandfather and his brothers navigated cattle across the Caloosahatchee by barge in the 1940s. My maternal grand-parents met at Buckingham Army Airfield. My mother was Miss Lee County in a year she’d prefer I not mention. Lee County is my home. The blood, sweat, and tears of generations of my family are, literally, in its soil. When I was born, my dad was pastor of a church in Merritt Island, but we hurried back home to Fort Myers as fast as we could. Raised along-side my five brothers, I attended local schools, graduating from Fort Myers High. I’ve been married 25 years to Dari-us Cochran, a fourth-generation resi-dent; we have two sons, Nathan and Dy-lan, and two bonus sons, Joseph and Joslyn.
What have you done professionally?
My husband, Darius, and I have owned businesses in Lee County for 25 years. Additionally, I’ve dedicated 25 years to nonprofit work, serving as a board member of Larry Ford Ministries, a faith-based organization founded by my Grammy Award-winning father.
How has your life prepared you to serve as commissioner?
With over two decades of community engagement and business leadership, I bring a wealth of experience to my candidacy. My tenure in the business sector has honed my skills in leadership, strategic planning, and fostering partner-ships. I have navigated challenges, efficiently managed resources, and created opportunities for growth.
Meanwhile, my extensive involvement in non-profits has deepened my understanding of community needs. Raised in a family committed to service, public service is ingrained in me. I am dedicated to continuing this legacy by bringing practical solutions and a people-first approach to the role of commissioner.
The basis of the position of commissioner is to be a public servant. As a com-missioner, my fundamental role will be to serve the public diligently and responsibly.
What are your district’s priorities and if elected, what are three (or more) new initiatives you’ll work on?
Critical issues like infrastructure, public safety, and environmental conservation demand immediate attention and are specifically plaguing District 5. I will prioritize the following, which are all tied to strategic growth planning:
Infrastructure improvement: As one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, road safety and traffic are top-level concerns, directly affecting Lee County’s quality of life. Development is outpacing infrastructure. Collaborating on initiatives to reduce road fatalities and enhance safety must be addressed.
Conservation plays a critical role in sustaining our economy, protecting our natural resources and improving our quality of life. With extensive surveys conducted by the Department of Emergency Management, we have gained valuable insights into areas suitable for development, essential for ensuring responsible sustainability.
Public safety: According to a recent study, Lee County ranks as having the 9th most dangerous roadways in the state. Finding solutions to our infra-structure issues is a step towards alleviating some of the traffic fatalities and injuries on Lee County roadways.
How will you balance development with conservation and water quality?
Effective growth management re-quires planning that respects our community’s character and environment.The county plan and codes play a very important role in deciding how to ad-dress growth. This planning is responsible for protecting coastal, rare, and unique habitats. When these plans are carelessly amended, flippant decision-making can erode their effectiveness, failing to account for the cumulative impacts of the amendments, leading to a sharp reduction in the quality of life for residents and taxpayers. We should require a higher standard for water quality, including wetlands protection.
What will you do to increase affordable and workplace housing?
Work with our state legislative partners to implement Sen. Passidomo’s recently passed “Live Local Act.”
Work with staff and nonprofit organizations to develop incentives to make providing affordable housing less of permitting burden, i.e. allowing accessory dwelling units (in-law suites) to help care for aging parents, etc.
Focus on redevelopment where affordable multi family could also be incentivized.
How do you characterize the state of transparency/accountability/accessibility in county government, and how will you instruct the Lee County administrator to provide public information?
One of the main reasons that brought me into this race is I recognized the dis-connect between communities and our elected officials. Lee County government has a wonderful website but there is always room for improvement. The county’s public records policy could be clearer on costs for record requests. Providing access within a reasonable time-line and communication is important to fostering trust. Additionally, Lee County should have dedicated social media pages for future transportation and development projects from the conception/feasibility stage and all continuing processes as they do for Parks and Recreation. This is much more transparent than burying them in the newspaper and hard-to-read weathered road signage as the current system does.
What do you want to be sure people know about you?
I am not a career politician; I am a dedicated advocate for Lee County residents. I am also not here to dictate solutions - I am here to listen, learn and lead with accountability and transparency. Every vote I cast on the County Com-mission will stand on responsible, moral, and ethical principles. I am deeply rooted in the fabric of Lee County, and my candidacy is not just about seeking public office; it’s about using my experience and dedication to make a real difference in the lives of our residents.
Why should people vote for you instead of your opponent?
My sole motivation for running is to represent the best interest and needs of the people of Lee County above special interests/lobbyists and, certainly, as a public servant, without consideration for personal gain. What started out as a grassroots effort to promote government integrity in Lee County developed into my awareness of larger issues that are significantly affecting our local government. Our infrastructure is stretched to the limit, our water systems are in danger, and our school and healthcare systems are continually playing catch-up to the growing population. This is in no way a criticism of those systems. My disappointment is focused on local government that is responsible for assisting with planning and management of those systems. This isn’t about personal gain or vested interests; it’s about securing a brighter future for our community, ensuring a prosperous future for all.
Learn more: https://www.amandascochran.com/
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