County dedicates building to Manning
John Manning was man who served his community for so long, many people, even county commissioners, can’t remember a time when he didn’t.
Manning, who served as a Cape Coral City council member and county commissioner, was instrumental in bringing a number of projects to fruition, including the building of a county center in the Cape.
On Thursday, that building was dedicated in his name.
Friends and dignitaries gathered in the parking lot of the Lee County Government Center in Cape Coral to honor Manning, with the ceremony taking place pretty much where he parked his car as he had an office in the building.
Four of the five current commissioners told stories of Manning, who passed away in July, what he meant to the community and dedicated a plaque in his honor that will be placed near the entrance of the building.
Commissioner Brian Hamman started the event right at 10 a.m. because Manning liked to be prompt, and praised him for his fiscal responsibility and conservatism with our land.
Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said Manning’s sense of humor and timing kept everyone on their toes.
Manning was also always the first one to work.
“No matter what time I got there, he was always there first. I asked him if he slept here and he said ‘Maybe,'” Pendergrass said. “He always loved his job. I will miss that and his kindness to people.”
Donna Manning was there to help unveil the plaque in his honor and said she was always proud to stand beside her husband.
“He loved every little bit of Lee County, the people in it, this is what John was all about. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all, to everyone who touched him in a meaningful way,” Donna said.
Manning was appointed to the BOCC in 1988 after serving six years on the Cape Coral City Council, where he remained until 2000. Manning returned to the BOCC in 2010 following the death of Bob Janes and served another 10 years before retiring in 2020. Kevin Ruane now holds the seat.
Manning retired as the fourth-longest serving commissioner in the history of Lee County.
Brian Hamman, District 4 County Commissioner and a lifelong Cape Coral resident, said he couldn’t really remember a time when Manning wasn’t in government.
“When you serve as long as John did, you see the fruits of things he voted on. By having a physical reminder like this building is something that will help the community remember him,” Hamman said. “John always joked with me that he had socks older than me, and he’s right. He was in office since I was 8 years old.”
Joe Mazurkiewicz, former Cape Coral mayor who served with Manning in the 1980s, said after becoming a commissioner, Manning came back to speak in regards of a government building he wanted to create behind City Hall, and he was able to do it.
“John was short and to the point, had a dry, quick wit and the fact that this building has his name would make him pleased because he was about cutting-edge governing,” Mazurkiewicz said. “This is an example of that.”
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com