VILLAGE CONNECTION – Get to know the Village of Estero Councilmembers

The Village of Estero Councilmembers Joanne Ribble (District 1), Jeff Hunt (District 2), and Jim Ward (District 6), were sworn in on March 19 to serve four-year terms.  Council then voted to elect Vice Mayor Joanne Ribble as the new Mayor and Councilmember George Zalucki (District 7) as Vice Mayor for a two-year term each.

Learn about the councilmembers below:

 

District 1: Mayor Joanne Ribble

Joanne Ribble has served on the Village Council since March 2021. She was appointed Vice Mayor in April 2023 and as the Mayor of Estero on March 19, 2025. Her areas of strategic concern include: Estero River, Estero on the River, the Village Center Property at Corkscrew and Tamiami Trail, septic to sewer and Coconut Road and US 41 development. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida League of Cities and is the President of the Southwest Florida League Chapter.

Ribble has been a resident of The Colony in Pelican Landing since 2007.  She has served as co-chair of the Pelican Landing Unit Owners Committee, served on the Pelican Landing Board of Directors and was appointed President. In the Colony, she served on the Colony Design Review and Standards Committee, Colony Resident Committee and is a former president of the Colony Foundation Board of Directors.

 

District 2: Jeff Hunt

Jeff Hunt was elected and recently sworn in to serve a four-year term for District 2.  Hunt has been a resident of Estero since 2018 and resides full-time in Pelican Sound Golf & River Club. Jeff is actively involved as a member of the Pelican Sound Watercraft and River committee. He is also a board member and a ranger for the Calusa Waterkeeper organization. Jeff enjoys family, community, outdoor sports, cars and travel.

His areas of interest include: Environmental preservation and sustainability, particularly the Estero River and Estero Bay, public safety, economic development and smart growth of our infrastructure to improve the Village of Estero.

 

District 6: Jim Ward

 Jim Ward has served on the Village Council since March 2021. In this election, Ward ran unopposed in District 6. His areas of interest include water quality and conservation, fiscal management, recreation, and economic development.

Ward has been a resident of Spring Run at the Brooks since 2003. He has served on the Board of Directors of Spring Run Golf Club as Treasurer and President.  He also served on the Spring Run Charitable Foundation Board, and on the Board of Directors of The Commons Club at the Brooks and the Brooks Community Development District (CDD).  Ward is currently the liaison to the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce.

 

District 7: Vice Mayor George Zalucki

Residing at The Preserve at Corkscrew, George Zalucki and his wife Sharon have been proud residents of the Village of Estero since 2014 after relocating from Michigan.  As a dedicated public servant, George has 27 years of experience as a professional Firefighter and Emergency Manager, retiring as a Fire Chief/PEM in 2013 before relocating to Estero.

George’s involvement in the community encompasses, but is not limited to: Village of Estero Council Liaison to the Estero Forever Foundation, Estero Community Liaison to Arts Bonita, Co-Founder and Vice Chair of EsteroFest, member of the Village of Estero Veterans Day Celebration Committee, former Chairperson of the Estero Forever Foundation, former Vice Chair-Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce, former Board Member of the Estero Historical Society, and former CDD Supervisor at The Preserve at Corkscrew.