Draft:Eric Feichthaler

Eric Paul Feichthaler (born November 29, 1971) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 11th mayor of Cape Coral, Florida from 2005 to 2008. He won the election at the age of 33. .

Early years
Eric Feichthaler was born in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and attended Lower Moreland School District schools through 9th grade. In 1987, he moved to Cape Coral, Florida. He graduated from Mariner High School and attended college at the University of Miami, earning his Bachelor's of Arts with honors in Economics with minors in Business Administration and Political Science. He then enrolled at Georgetown University Law Center, earning his Juris Doctor in 1997. He then attended NYU to receive his Master of Laws (LL.M) in 2001. After this, he returned to Cape Coral to practice law. On August 12, 2004, Feichthaler filed the paperwork needed to run in the Cape Coral mayoral election in April 2005.

Mayor of Cape Coral
Feichthaler ran for mayor in the April 5, 2005 Cape Coral Elections and defeated incumbent opposing candidate Arnold Kempe, receiving 9,025 votes compared to Kempe's 6,369, or a percentage of 58.63 compared to Kempe's 41.37. Feichthaler was inaugurated on April 11, 2005. Feichthaler was mayor during the economic expansion of the mid-2000's as well as Hurricane Wilma striking Southwest Florida. During his time as Mayor, he primarily focused on utilities expansion throughout Cape Coral and greater Lee County. During the several months of debates surrounding the utilities expansion, Feichthaler supported lowering the costs by $1,500 per assessment Additionally, he supported the creation of the Cape Coral Charter School system, building two elementary schools and a middle school during his tenure in office. He also helped create new city parks, such as Jim Jeffers, Joe Stonis, and Paul Sanborn Parks, and widened Pine Island Road to 4 lanes and Santa Barbara and Del Prado Boulevards to six lanes. Feichthaler was appointed and served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, when the MPO secured funding from Congress to widen Interstate 75 from four to six lanes in Lee County, as well as State Road 80 (Palm Beach Road) to the county line. He was a founding board member and served as Chair of the Florida League of Mayors, and served as a member on the board of Lee County Tourist Development Council. Feichthaler engaged in initial negotiations with ownership from the Cleveland Indians to relocate their spring training facility from Winter Haven, Florida to Cape Coral. The Cape Coral City Council declined to further pursue the opportunity

Post-Mayoral Life
After resigning as mayor, Feichthaler ran for the District 1 seat of the Lee Board of County Commissioners to give the largest city in Lee County better representation. He ultimately lost the election to incumbent Bob Janes, and returned to the full-time practice of law. During this time, he joined the Cape Coral Charter School Foundation and the Cape Coral Mayor's Scholarship Fund. In 2010, Feichthaler ran for Lee County Judge against incumbent Archie Hayward Jr. Feichthaler lost the election, with Hayward receiving 50.17% of the total vote, triggering an automatic hand recount which Hayward won

Legal Practice and Current Life
Feichthaler continued the practice of law and joined Burandt, Adamski and Feichthaler as named partner in 2010. He earned his Board Certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar in 2014. In 2015, he achieved AV Preeminent ratings in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards, and continues to maintain those ratings as well as his Board Certification as of 2024. His community philanthropy efforts include serving on the Cape Coral Museum of History Board of Directors and the Cape Coral Caring Center Board of Directors. As of 2024, he serves as the Cape Coral Kiwanis Club President. He and his wife Mary Feichthaler are the parents of four children: Eric Jr., Tyler, Emily, and Lachlan.