Campaign Overview

Throughout my first term in office, I have tried to listen to differing viewpoints, bring people together and solve problems. The challenges for our island after Hurricane Ian are immense but so are the opportunities. If given the privilege to serve a second term, my governing philosophy will continue to be one of limited government through common sense, professionalism, civility and servant leadership.

Before moving to Fort Myers Beach permanently, I was blessed to be able to serve the State of Indiana in various roles including congressional aide, state legislator, insurance commissioner, chair of the utility regulatory commission and chief of staff to the governor. Prior to my service on the Fort Myers Beach Town Council, I volunteered as a member of the Local Planning Agency (LPA) and served as a board member for my condominium association. A few years back, I started my own small consulting business focusing on regulatory compliance. I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and have been married for 36 years to my college sweetheart, Brenda, who still works full time as a nurse. We are blessed to have three grown sons, Jack, Joe and Jimmy, a bartender/musician, a cyber security analyst and a scientist, respectfully. We were members of Chapel by the Sea church prior to Ian.

These various life experiences helped me respond when Hurricane Ian devastated Fort Myers Beach on Wednesday, September 28, 2022--sparing no one. With $112 billion in overall damages, Ian is the third costliest hurricane to date to make landfall in the United States. Brenda and I were on the island during the storm and saw the destruction first-hand. We also had a front row seat to witness the countless acts of kindness, generosity, prayer and neighbor helping neighbor.

My focus after the storm has been to partner with the mayor and my colleagues on the council to put in place and support a new town governance team in response to the many challenges we now face post Ian. I have also been helping our residents and businesses who have had problems with insurance, permitting, power, internet and other infrastructure issues. In my capacity as Vice Mayor, here are some specific issues that have received my attention:

Leading the fight to get emergency post office trailers opened after the storm so people on our island would no longer have to drive an hour to the airport to get their mail.
Creating an informational video series after the storm called “Key Questions for Key Staffers” to help our residents get better information from their government post Ian.
Serving on the Ad Hoc Committee which, along with many very engaged parents, negotiated an inter-local agreement between the Town and the Lee County School District that helped to save our Beach School from closing.
Advocating for residents and businesses who have been poorly served by their insurance companies post Ian--drawing the attention of both the media and state regulators to the neglect and corruption of certain insurance companies. Helping to bring an Insurance Village to Fort Myers Beach where consumers could meet directly with their insurance company under the scrutiny of state regulators.
Encouraging and assisting essential businesses like Publix, CVS, 7-Eleven and Santini Plaza to reopen.

There is a strong desire to build back quickly and see both our residents and businesses thrive again. There is also a need to preserve the vibe of Fort Myers Beach and not add to the traffic congestion. These two approaches need not be conflicting; the challenge going forward will be working together to find the proper balance.

My pledge is to once again run a positive campaign which will involve walking the neighborhoods to hear from voters, putting up yard signs, sending out mail pieces and running advertisements. If you would like to contribute financially to the campaign, you may send a check made payable to “Atterholt for FMB Council” to 4198 Bay Beach Lane, Unit #162, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. If folks would like for me to give them a call or if they want to share their thoughts or concerns about the campaign--they can reach me via e-mail at: atterholtjames7390@comcast.net

My vision for Fort Myers Beach remains a very optimistic one and my campaign will be a reflection of that vision. Over the upcoming months, I will be making the case, respectfully, for your vote on November 5th, 2024—thank you for your consideration.