Fort Myers Mayor-elect Kevin Anderson lays out agenda

On Nov. 3, Kevin Anderson was elected the next mayor of Fort Myers.

Anderson says his message is that Fort Myers is a city for everyone.

“Yes, we are up and coming,” Anderson said. “We are one of the fastest-growing cities, one of the best areas for retirement.”

He has highlighted economic development as a key priority he will pursue, citing the Luminary Hotel as an example of the kind of projects he would like to bring more people to downtown Fort Myers and create more jobs.

“Economic development is another one I really hope that, at some point, we’re going to see, and I’m gonna work hard for this,” Anderson said “The Palm Beach Boulevard, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, U.S. 41… those corridors will return to thriving commercial corridors. Which would in turn be good for the neighborhoods that are around it.”

Anderson says he also wants to keep taxes in check, improve public safety, tackle homelessness and build more affordable housing.

“That affects all of the others,” Anderson said. “If we have economic development and we are reducing poverty, reducing unemployment levels… that impacts crime. And if we’re a good community, then hopefully we attract the best candidates for working at the police department which helps them to continue to improve. And if we’re building our tax base right, then we can keep the tax rates down. They go off each other.”

When asked how he plans to handle the pandemic and its impact on businesses, Anderson said it’s all about a balance of power, and a need to keep businesses open while keeping everyone safe and healthy.