Candidate questions for District 5 Commission: Amanda Cochran

Editor’s note: We sent a set of identical questions relating to Boca Grande to both of the Lee Commission candidates for District 5 earlier this month. In Lee County, the commissioner is elected across the county. This week, we print responses from Amanda Cochran, one of two Republican candidates

Six generations of my family have called this place home. I love Lee County. 

My husband, Darius, and I have proudly owned and operated businesses in Lee County for the past 27 years. Alongside my work in the private sector, I’ve dedicated those same 27 years to serving our community through non-profit and civic engagement. I serve on the board of Larry Ford Ministries, a faith-based organization founded by my late Grammy Award–winning father and have long been an active community advocate. I’ve contributed my time to Alva, Inc., a civic organization with a 25-year history of community involvement, and to the Southwest Florida Business Alliance, whose mission is to strengthen collaboration that drives responsible growth, preserves community character, and ensures economic opportunity across Lee County.

With over two decades of community engagement and business ownership, I bring a wealth of experience to the role of Lee County Commission. My tenure in the business sector has sharpened my skills in leadership, strategic planning, and fostering partnerships. As a businessperson, I have navigated challenges, efficiently managed resources, and created opportunities for growth.

Question 1: Overall Priorities

Q: What do you view as the single most critical issue facing Lee County over the next four years, and what would you like to do to change it?

Growth management is the most critical issue facing Lee County over the next four years. Growth itself is not the problem. The challenge is ensuring that development is planned responsibly and supported by adequate roads, schools, drainage, utilities, and public safety infrastructure.

I will work to restore respect for our Comprehensive Plan and oppose repeated amendments and rezonings that allow densities our communities and infrastructure were never designed to support. When exceptions become the rule, neighborhood character suffers, public services fall behind, and existing residents are left paying the price.

I believe growth must pay for growth. New development should contribute its fair share toward the infrastructure it requires, and land-use decisions should be transparent, accountable, and based on sound long-term planning.

Before every major development decision, I will ask whether the project improves Lee County for current residents while protecting the quality of life of future generations. If it does not, it is not smart growth.

Question 2: Fiscal Responsibility 

Q: Lee County faces potential fiscal tightening. In light of shifting state property tax revenue discussions, how do you propose the county manage its budget while ensuring that essential public services and infrastructure funding are not compromised?

My family was already well-established in Lee County when Florida adopted the homestead exemption in 1934. At that time, the exemption covered the full value of many homes. More than 90 years later, the exemption remains only $50,000 and represents a much smaller share of most homes’ value.

I support meaningful property tax relief for homeowners, particularly as families, seniors, veterans, and small business owners face rising insurance premiums and other cost-of-living pressures. At the same time, Lee County must prepare responsibly for any reduction in property tax revenue without compromising public safety, roads, drainage, emergency management, parks, or other essential services.

The first response should not be higher fees or shifting the burden elsewhere. County government must examine every department, prioritize core responsibilities, eliminate waste, modernize operations, and ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent efficiently.

Lee County’s rapid growth should also strengthen the County’s financial position rather than continually increase costs for existing residents. New development must contribute its fair share toward the infrastructure and services it requires.

Question 3: Barrier Island Density

Q: Despite ongoing debates surrounding development on fragile barrier islands, recent years have seen increased square footage via new housing, commercial spaces, the medical clinic, and the community center. On other islands there have also been increased building. What is your stance on current density limits and future development on Gasparilla Island?

Gasparilla Island is one of Southwest Florida’s most unique and treasured communities. Its natural beauty, historic character, and small-town coastal atmosphere are part of what make it special, and those qualities deserve to be preserved.

I believe existing density limits should be respected unless there is compelling public interest supported by sound planning and meaningful community input. Decisions by leaders should always consider evacuation capacity, infrastructure, public safety, environmental impacts, water quality, and the long-term character of the island.

Roads, utilities, emergency access, and environmental resources cannot be expanded indefinitely. At the same time, I believe property owners should be able to reasonably use and improve their property within the framework of existing laws and regulations.

As your County Commissioner, I will support thoughtful, well-planned growth that preserves the character of Gasparilla Island, protects its sensitive coastal environment, and ensures that future decisions are made transparently, based on facts and with input from the residents who call the island home.

Question 4: Taxation 

Q: Gasparilla Island properties contribute a disproportionately high share of Lee County’s ad valorem property tax revenue relative to its small permanent population size. Some residents perceive that they pay more than their share for services. How do you see the amount that Gasparilla Island pays?

Gasparilla Island is undoubtedly an important contributor to Lee County’s property tax base, and I understand why many residents want to know that their tax dollars are being used wisely and that they receive a fair level of service in return. 

I don’t believe this should be viewed as one community versus another. Every taxpayer in Lee County deserves responsive government, responsible stewardship of public funds, and confidence that county resources are allocated fairly and transparently.

At the same time, it is appropriate to regularly evaluate whether county services and infrastructure investments are keeping pace with the needs of every community, including Gasparilla Island. Public safety, emergency preparedness, road maintenance, beach access, environmental protection, and other essential services should be assessed based on objective needs, service levels, and long-term planning, not politics.

As your County Commissioner, I will be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars by asking tough questions, demanding accountability, and ensuring county government delivers value to the people it serves. My goal is not to favor one community over another, but to ensure every community is heard, treated fairly, and well served.

Question 5: Parking

Q: The county-enacted parking regulations and the creation of the Boca Grande Parking Committee remain highly contentious, with some local business owners arguing they harm the island’s small-business economy, but others appreciating the change. Moving forward, what specific changes—if any—would you support regarding parking enforcement and management in Boca Grande?

I’ve heard from residents, business owners, employees, and visitors who believe the current parking regulations have had negative consequences for Boca Grande’s economy and accessibility. When a policy generates this much concern, county leaders have a responsibility to listen, evaluate the results, and make adjustments if needed.

Small businesses are vital to our local economy. If parking policies are discouraging customers, creating challenges for employees, or making it harder for visitors to enjoy the island, those impacts deserve careful attention. At the same time, residents have legitimate concerns about congestion, safety, and preserving Boca Grande’s unique character.

I support a comprehensive, data-driven review of the current parking program, informed by input from residents, businesses, employees, and visitors. If the evidence shows the program is creating unnecessary hardship or failing to meet its goals, I would support meaningful changes. My priority is practical, transparent solutions that balance the needs of residents, property owners, businesses, employees, and visitors while preserving the character that makes Boca Grande so special.

Question 6: Any other comments or thoughts?

Boca Grande is an absolute treasure of Lee County, and its residents deserve a county government that is open, responsive, and accountable.

The decisions facing Gasparilla Island, including development, density, traffic, evacuation capacity, water quality, beach protection, and public safety, are too important to be made without meaningful public input and access to accurate information.

Transparency has been a foundation of my campaign because I have heard from residents across Lee County who feel shut out of important decisions. Public trust is difficult to earn when information appears controlled or filtered, particularly when those decisions may permanently affect a community’s character and quality of life.

As County Commissioner, I will advocate for greater openness, meaningful community engagement, and direct access to factual information. The people of Boca Grande deserve clear answers from those with the relevant expertise, not simply carefully prepared talking points. They also deserve a genuine voice in decisions affecting the future of their island.

Questions in primary advance

While there are dozens of elections coming up including primaries for governor in both parties, state CFO, U.S. senator and House of Representatives, there is only one contested election for the Lee Commissoin. We reached out to both candidates, and have the first response this week, from Amanda Cochran, who is running in District 5 against the incumbent, Trish Petrosky.