Union backers shift Cape Coral politics

The job of Cape Coral business boosters to recruit new business to the struggling city in Lee County just got harder.

Union-backed candidates Leonard Nesta Jr. and John Carioscia Sr. won election to the Cape Coral city council Nov. 8, defeating pro-business incumbents Pete Brandt and William Deile.

The union wins come just as Cape Coral was beginning to get its fiscal house in order under the guidance of City Manager Gary King. Now, King's job will likely be more difficult as he lost some backing on the city council to bargain hard with city employees and local unions.

Cape Coral was one of the hardest-hit cities in Florida in the real estate bust because of rampant housing speculation. Meanwhile, the city had embarked on a massive effort to install new sewers just as the economy was collapsing.

Now, with the shift in power, it's not clear how the city will navigate the fiscal challenges ahead and this kind of uncertainty won't help to attract new businesses.