Punta Gorda voters returned Jeannine Polk to her District 1 seat on City Council and sent newcomer Gary Butler into District 4, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's election. Polk defeated challenger George Williamson, while Butler unseated incumbent Janis Denton, with both races drawing candidates who ran on promises to fix the city's chronic flooding problems.
Polk Holds Off a Challenger Shaped by Hurricane Milton
Polk won with 6,222 votes to Williamson's 4,635, according to unofficial results from the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections Office, as reported by The Daily Sun. Polk was elected in 2024 and has opposed overdevelopment.
Williamson's campaign had deeply personal roots. He decided to run for office after Hurricane Milton's 2024 storm surge destroyed two of his cars and severely damaged his home, and he campaigned on improving drainage and strengthening flood protection.
Flooding and Historic Parks Top Polk's Agenda
Polk has identified the city's land development regulations and comprehensive plan as issues she wants to tackle, and she said she intends to keep addressing flooding while pursuing National Register status for the city's historic public parks. She has said she plans to work with the city's Historic Preservation Advisory Board toward that goal. On her campaign website, Polk describes a comprehensive flood study underway in the city meant to help manage king tides and heavy rainfall, though she has cautioned that the study will not provide a complete solution for major storms like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, per jpolk.com.
Polk's interest in historic preservation lines up with action the City Council already took earlier this year. Council members unanimously approved an application on July 1 to nominate Gilchrist Park and the city's original waterfront parks for the National Register of Historic Places, according to Gulfshore Business. The nomination covers the 12-acre Gilchrist Park along with the remaining original platted parks of Alice, Pittman and Shreve, and it was prepared by Historic Preservation Advisory Board member Terry Zeigler, the outlet reported. Polk has also said that pursuing national historic registry status for the city's public parks is among her priorities, and that regulatory updates to land development rules may also necessitate amendments to the city's Comprehensive Plan.
Butler Unseats an Incumbent in District 4
In District 4, Gary Butler defeated incumbent Janis Denton.
The Daily Sun reported that it contacted Denton Tuesday night but received no response.
