Laura DeBruce

Laura DeBruce, an attorney and entrepreneur, was sworn in as a Sanibel City Council member April 2 after being unopposed during the candidate qualifying period. DeBruce replaces Arlene Dillon, who began an interim term Feb. 6 following the resignation of Dr. Scott Crater. DeBruce has owned a home on Sanibel since 2010 and has been an island resident since 2015. After graduating from the University of Florida and Boston University Law School, she lived in Europe, where she taught university courses, was an associate at Baker & McKenzie and then was director of legal affairs for CME Media Enterprises, launching several television stations throughout post-Communist Europe. DeBruce co-founded GrandView Castle Entertainment with her husband, Jeff Blackman, distributing motion pictures throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. As a partner in DeBruce Blackman PLLC, DeBruce provides legal and consulting advice. In 2018, she and her husband co-founded Sanibel Carts, a street legal golf cart rental business on the island.