Here's how to vote in the Jan. 31 Naples and Bonita Springs municipal elections as well as the Republican presidential primary. The same ballot in some areas will include tax rate hikes in fire districts based in East Naples, Golden Gate and Immokalee.
Please note that the election date is actually a misnomer. Early voting starts Monday in Collier County and Saturday in Lee.
Jan. 31 is when it all comes to a climax.
Note this as well: Registered voters in both counties can cast ballots anywhere in their respective counties.
That can be convenient for people who live in the cities but work elsewhere during voting hours.
Here are the details about dates, times and places:
Collier County
Voting will be available Mondays through Saturdays, Jan. 16-28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at:
n Everglades City Hall, 102 Copeland Ave.
n Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Road
n Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St.
n Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, North Naples
n Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Drive
n Naples City Hall, 735 Eighth St. S.
n Supervisor of Elections Office, 3301 U.S. 41 E., Building C2, East NaplesNeed more voter information? Call the Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office at 252-8450 or go online to colliervotes.com.
Lee County
Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Jan. 28, at these locations:
n Lee County Elections Main Office, 2480 Thompson St., Fort Myers, Phone: 533-8683
n Lee County Elections Center Branch Office, across from Bell Tower Shops, rear of Robb & Stucky, 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, Phone: 533-6918
n Cape Coral Branch Office, 1031 SE Ninth Place, No. 3, Cape Coral, Phone: 533-7031
n Bonita Springs Branch Office, Coconut Commerce Center, 24951 Old 41 Road, Suite 10, Bonita Springs, Phone: 949-1581
n East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres, Phone: 533-8683
Need more voter information? Call the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 533-8683 or go online to leeelections.com.
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Comments » 4
frustratedincollier writes:
Monday is Martin Luther King Day. Which of these government run locations will actually be open for early voting on Monday, January 16?
jude1#221154 writes:
ABUSES OF POWER
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Ben Nelson, as soon as he was elected mayor, had the Bonita Springs City Council picture replaced with his own picture on the city web site, despite repeat complaints by the then-chair of the CAB (Communications Advisory board) that this was inappropriate and in violation of the city charter (the mayor and council all have equal votes). The city's cable channel, BTV98, was (and still is) being used by Nelson to promote himself at taxpayers' expense and in violation, I believe, of the city charter and state law.
One example is the slick, one-hour production promoting the Lee-Collier bus route. Nelson does 90 percent of the speaking during that program and he spends most of it glad-handing others and patting himself on the back for what he thinks is a job well done.
Perhaps it was, but it could be better performed with jitney (van or large taxi) service.
In any case, using city resources for self-promotion by an incumbent is illegal.
Enough of Nelson's self-promotion. We need a mayor who will listen to the people . Dave Grothaus is that man.
jude1#221154 writes:
GOBS of REASONS
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Yes Dave Grothaus is a conservative Republican and Ben Nelson is an illiberal Democrat.
But the two parties in the city election are not Republican versus Democrat. They are the "good ole boys" (GOBs) versus the newcomers.
A newcomer is basically anyone not born in Bonita Springs. Some (very few) not born in Bonita may become members of the GOBs if they manage to get in on the inside deals that the GOBs conduct with each other. Any "newcomer" ideas are rejected out of hand. The GOBs work hard to keep the public in the dark about city matters.
Unfortunately, the GOBs are in it for themselves and their buddies. Mindless development is their motto. The Bonita Springs Fire Department and Bonita Springs Utilities are two examples of what the GOBs have wrought upon us in Bonita.
Conversely, it is the newcomers who are fighting for good, honest and open government. Many of them are retirees; some are telecommuters.
Private communities consisting mostly of "newcomers" have 65 percent of the city population and pay about 80 percent of city taxes, while getting only 20 percent of city services. The "newcomers" are now a great majority in numbers and in education and certainly deserve a term in leadership.
This is what is going on in this mayoral election.
Mayor Ben Nelson has been on Council for 12 long years with dubious accomplishments. His ideas are tired and bankrupt. He is a divisive figure unable to listen to others' ideas and visions.
It's time for a change. Vote for new ideas. Vote for honest and effective government. Vote for Dave Grothaus.
jude1#221154 writes:
SHOVEL READY
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I am sickened by the nasty things Mayor Ben Nelson and some of his council lackeys have done to maintain themselves in power.
I am angered that Nelson and the "good ole boys" disregard the wishes of the majority of the people of Bonita on many issues. (I have evidence that they do not even wish to know the will of the people!)
I am offended that Nigel Fullick, John Bolan (JohnnyB) madegal, madeguy and the rest of the GOBs feel that people who did not grow up here are incapable of governing despite the fact that they have more management experience and far better education than Nelson.
Nelson was quite candid when he called himself a "politician" during the BTV98 top-down brainstorming sessions about city "branding." Nelson's work ethic is best illustrated by his monthly story in the November Spotlight. While his father was a child, he learned that if he simply abuses and scrapes his shovel violently for a few minutes, his returning employer will think that he (and not the "other guy") has been digging all day.
This is the typical Nelson method — do as little work as possible with as much fanfare as possible. Make it look like you did a good job when in fact you were fooling and cheating your employer and the "other guy" was doing all the work.
Well in this case, Mr. Nelson, your employers are the people of Bonita. They will not be fooled any more.
Please join me in electing Dave Grothaus, a candidate with integrity and experience.
Jude
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