by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
City Council at its September 14 meeting issued a Proclamation recognizing long-time Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane, not just for his services as Sanibel Mayor, but for his dedication to Sanibel and Southwest Florida after his election to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
Ruane has dedicated more than 14 years of distinguished service to Sanibel as a member of the Sanibel City Council, including more than a decade as Mayor, before leaving the Council upon his election to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in 2020. Throughout his tenure, his leadership, commitment to preserving Sanibel’s unique character, and vision for the community helped shape many of the initiatives and priorities that continue to benefit the island today.
Throughout his public service, the Proclamation read, Ruane has been a tireless advocate for protecting and improving the water quality of Southwest Florida, educating elected officials, community leaders, and the public while championing policies and funding that protect the region’s estuaries, coastal waters, and environment for future generations.
As a Lee County Commissioner representing District 1, Ruane has worked diligently to ensure that the needs of Sanibel and the barrier island communities remain a priority within county government.
Following Hurricane Ian, Ruane served as Chair of the Lee County Recovery Task Force, leading the development of the ResilientLee Recovery & Resilience Plan, which has guided Lee County in rebuilding stronger and enhancing long-term resilience.
Ruane was a steadfast advocate for securing Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for critical planning and infrastructure projects benefiting the City of Sanibel, including the Broadband Study, Transportation Master Plan Update, Sanibel Plan Update, road reconstruction, lift station elevation, a new Sanibel Police Station, a more resilient Fire & Rescue Station 171, and a resilient facility for FISH of SanCap, advancing the City’s long-term recovery and resilience
Mayor Mike Miller read, “The City Council of the City of Sanibel recognizes Commissioner Kevin Ruane for his decades of distinguished public service to the City of Sanibel and Lee County, and for his steadfast leadership and advocacy, which have left a lasting and meaningful impact on the community and the residents he has served.
“City Council of the City of Sanibel, hereby expresses its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Commissioner Kevin Ruane for his outstanding leadership, dedicated public service, and unwavering advocacy for the City of Sanibel, and extends its best wishes for his continued service to the people of Lee County,” Miller finished.
“It’s always great to come back home,” Ruane said. “Sanibel will always continue to have a place in my heart.
“The good news, honestly, is we got a lot of funding. We have about $9 million in unmet needs. We need to do some work. We need some help,” Ruane continued. “It’s important that we do all we can to help Sanibel recover.
“I appreciate the award, Council, thank you so much. I’m a phone call away,” Ruane promised. He added that he will be announcing his re-election campaign for four more years.
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