VILLAGE CONNECTION – Village of Estero turns 10

“Mr. Estero” Don Eslick

It was on December 31, 2014, that the Village of Estero was officially created.

This was the result of the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) concerted efforts to become a city in order to protect our community from being annexed into Bonita Springs.

In July 2013, ECCL volunteers formed a transition team which began working to make incorporation happen. The team included ECCL Chairman Emeritus Don Eslick (aka “Mr. Estero”), Chairman Nick Batos, Directors Howard Levitan, Phil Douglas, Bob Lienesch, Jim Boesch, Roger Strelow, and Marilyn Edwards

A community-wide publicity campaign was initiated by ECCL Communications Director Edwards, with ECCL Chairman Batos, Vice Chairman Howard Levitan and Incorporation Committee Chairman John Goodrich conducting 33 community meetings describing the benefits of incorporation. This resulted in 10,238 petitions being signed by residents indicating their wish to have an incorporation referendum on the ballot.

In addition, Rep. Ray Rodrigues hosted two Town Hall meetings attended by over 3,000 Estero residents. He later presented a local bill to the Lee County Legislation for an Estero incorporation referendum to be placed on the November 4, 2014, ballot.

A resounding 86 percent of the Estero residents voted for incorporation which resulted in our community officially becoming the Village of Estero on December 31, 2014.

Two well-attended Council Candidate Forums were conducted in January and February 2015 to introduce the community to those 12 candidates wishing to serve on the new Village Council. Residents voted for the Council candidates of their choice on March 3, 2015.

On March 17, 2015, our new municipality held its first meeting at the Estero High School where Nick Batos was selected to serve as the Village’s first mayor. The new Council was comprised of Batos, Don Brown, Jim Boesch, Katy Errington, Howard Levitan, Bill Ribble, and Jim Wilson.

2015 Village of Estero Council Members