by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
At the Sanibel City Council’s annual organizational meeting, council members elected their leaders for the upcoming year.
Mike Miller, who has served as mayor since March 2025, was nominated with no opposition and was therefore unanimously elected to continue as Mayor for another term. He thanked all the people of Sanibel and City Staff for making his successes possible, and said, “It is my honor to serve.”
There were two nominations for vice mayor: Laura DeBruce and John Henshaw, who cautioned that he will be moving off the island in another year and will be leaving in 2027. Nevertheless, with one year to go, he accepted the nomination and said he would be honored to serve.
The vote for DeBruce resulted in “no” votes from Henshaw, Miller, and Council member Richard Johnson. On the second ballot, John Henshaw was unanimously elected Vice Mayor.
Outgoing Vice Mayor Holly Smith said, “I’m not going anywhere. I hope to be sitting in this seat for a long time.
Vice Mayor Doesn’t Take Long to Make Controversial Comments: “Protests Don’t Belong on Sanibel”
During the council comments portion of the meeting, newly elected Vice Mayor Henshaw said, “I was disappointed to see the recent protest on Sanibel. Those protests didn’t belong on Sanibel. I’m sure there were angry comments going back and forth. As far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t belong on Sanibel. We, the residents of Sanibel, live in harmony. It’s your right, obviously, to protest, but take it off the island. It did create safety concerns. It doesn’t create harmony.”
The recent protest on Sanibel was part of the international No Kings rallies around the country and around the world. An estimated 8 million people participated in over 3,300 No Kings rallies across the United States and in over a dozen countries worldwide on March 28, 2026, marking what could be the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Reports estimate that hundreds were gathered on Sanibel in front of the Community House.
Council member Laura DeBruce responded to Henshaw’s comments, “Without regard to the content, one of the most cherished values in our country is the right to peaceably gather. I would no sooner tell someone you can’t stand up in a public place. Part of being a sanctuary island is protecting our rights, including the right to speak our piece.”
When questioned further about his remarks, Henshaw doubled down, repeating that of course everyone has the right to peacefully protest – just not on Sanibel. Regarding safety concerns, Henshaw admitted that police officers were available to ensure safety. He said, with obvious distaste, that drivers were honking their horns, either in support of or against the protesters.
“Sanibel is supposed to be a peaceful place, a relaxing sanctuary,” he repeated, again telling citizens they should do their protesting in Ft. Myers.
“Every single day, I am grateful to live on Sanibel—a small town in an idyllic setting. I attended the demonstration on March 28 to express my displeasure with our national governance,” said Sanibel resident Virginia Darby, who is a former board member and still a volunteer with the Sanibel Historical Village & Museum.
“The City of Sanibel was founded in protests, lawsuits, and intense community action. History shows that Sanibel residents have often been passionate for their beliefs,” Darby continued. “In the early 1960s, many islanders protested, showing vehement opposition to the construction of a causeway. A decade later, a rebellion arose, causing residents to reject their county government. Our shared bike path system didn’t just happen—women in the community stopped traffic on Periwinkle when they lay down in the road to call attention to the need for safe walkways and bicycle paths for their children.
“Last month, I became a part of that proud Sanibel tradition—a resident publicly expressing my beliefs and concerns,” Darby concluded. “Protesters around me included veterans and elderly retirees as well as visitors, who took time from their vacations. The demonstrations on Sanibel were heartfelt and peaceful.”