Charlotte County voters choose between conservative and independent candidates
Kim Amontree and Michael Melton face off for the District 4 commission seat on Nov. 3, with a large disparity in campaign funds.
By Andrew Hayes ·
The District 4 seat on the Charlotte County Commission is up for grabs in the Nov. 3 election. Current Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch does not seek re-election. Two candidates with different party affiliations and financial resources are competing for the position.
Kim Amontree is a registered Republican who previously served on the Charlotte County School Board for District 2. She has lived in the community for 35 years. Amontree identifies as a fiscal conservative and aims to reduce government spending. She cites property tax increases and infrastructure improvements as her primary concerns. She also plans to enforce term limits for government roles and keep the waterways clean.
Michael Melton is a no-party affiliated candidate who owns Enterprise Engineering Service in Charlotte County. Born and raised in Englewood, he intends to apply an engineering perspective to county governance. His priorities include responsible growth, hurricane resiliency, and updating infrastructure. Like Amontree, he wants to maintain clean water.
Campaign finances reveal a stark contrast between the two contenders. As of Oct. 16, Amontree had raised $213,220. Melton raised $19,673. This creates an 11-to-1 funding ratio in Amontree’s favor. Notable donors to Amontree include State Rep. Danny Nix Jr., Commissioner Christopher G. Constance, and the Truex Family Trust. Melton’s largest single contribution was $5,000 from himself on July 13.
