Disputed votes raise questions over SWFL water district election outcome

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK) — A local election, a months-long wait for public records, and conflicting tallies have sparked a fierce dispute over control of a little-known water control district in Bonita Springs.

At the center of the controversy is the San Carlos Estates Water Control District (SCEWCD), one of dozens of independent special districts across Florida. These boards possess the power to raise local taxes and maintain roads within their borders, yet they operate under unique state guidelines that differ substantially from traditional municipal elections.

The conflict began following the September 2024 annual landowners’ election. David Nadig, a local resident and farm owner who ran for a seat on the board after watching his district taxes rise from $300 to nearly $900, was initially told he lost to incumbent supervisor Jennifer Finazzo by a vote of 201 to 158.

Nadig brought his concerns to our WINK Listens event in Estero back in February.



https://www.winknews.com/wink_investigations/disputed-votes-raise-questions-over-swfl-water-district-election-outcome/article_f5168fb7-a34d-4e6a-830e-a387b00d5a85.html