On Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, Lee County residents will head to the polls to vote in the Primary. It’s important to note that all registered voters have the opportunity to vote in the District 5 County Commission seat race — whether you’re registered as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or No Party. That’s because both candidates are Republicans and no Democrat is running in the Fall, thus opening the race to the entire electorate. The candidate who gets the most votes in the Primary will automatically assume the District 5 seat.
The Candidates are:
- Amanda Cochran, of Alva, a native Floridian who first campaigned for the
District 5 seat against Mike Greenwell during the 2024 election. She ran on a platform of Smart Growth. During this election, responsible growth remains a top priority. During the 2024 race, the GPICA hosted a “Meet the Candidates” forum. You can view the recording and learn more about Cochran by watching the meeting recording below.
- Trish Petrosky is also a Florida native. She moved to
Alva in October 2025, just after the death of Mike Greenwell and just before being appointed by the Governor to fill Greenwell’s seat. She is running on a less-government, pro-business platform that would limit regulations.
The News=Press & Naples Daily News asked both Candidates to answer questions about their platforms and goals, should they be elected.
- Petrosky declined to answer the questionnaire, citing News-Press “bias.” Read more here.
- Read Cochran’s response to the questionnaire here