On this verge of Florida's Republican presidential primary climaxing on Tuesday, we direct voters' attention to local matters on the ballot.
There are municipal elections in Collier and Lee counties.
Collier also has tax-cap increase referendums in three independent fire districts.
To recap, the Daily News editorial board endorses:
■ Naples City Council
Bill Barnett, Teresa Heitmann and Dee Sulick. These incumbents, while not always agreeing, have been able to reach consensus on key public policy. In the absence of heavy growth and redevelopment, that policy comes down to budgeting and efficiency. Penny Taylor, who served 10 years on council until she was term-limited out two years ago, is also in this contest for three seats. But she has failed to show voters why they should unseat any of the three incumbents to make way for her return.
■ Bonita Springs
Ben Nelson is the easy and resounding choice for another term as mayor. He has been a steady hand at the helm during tumultuous times with the economy, while still managing to lead on downtown redevelopment, regional health care, roads and public safety.
For City Council we pick Wes Norris from a top-quality field of four candidates for the single available seat. His experience as a homebuilder and volunteer city planner would help him get the job done. He is in this for one thing — his community.
■ Fire taxes
Fire boards in East Naples, Golden Gate and Immokalee say that due to declining property values they need higher millage rates to maintain or improve quality services.
We believe it is time to force the issue and scrap the status quo of each district charting its own course and budget.
We believe it is time for consolidation and the efficiencies it would bring, starting with a streamlined administration.
The union representing firefighters in Golden Gate and East Naples agrees.
We recommend a "no" vote to millage cap hikes in all three fire districts.
Agree or disagree, please get out and vote. Your only remaining opportunity to do so comes Tuesday, when local polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Then sit back and watch as the returns come in Tuesday. There will be lots of local issues making an impact beyond the national spotlight trained on the Republican presidential hoopla.
Questions?
In Collier: Call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 252-8450 or go online to colliervotes.com.
In Lee: Call the County Supervisor of Elections Office at 533-8683 or go online to leeelections.com.
Collier County arrests 05-23-2012
Collier County arrests 05-22-2012
Editorial Cartoons: May 23, 2012
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 3
jude1#221154 writes:
Good Ole Boys
_________________
The NDN has mistakenly endorsed 2 democrats.
Now Wes Norris is a gentleman and Ben Nelson appears to be one as well.
Ben is a Democrat and Dave Grothaus is a Republican, 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 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:
As to the national scene the reason for gridlock is not that we have partisan elections. One reason is that we have too few parties. Most democracies have between 3 and 20 parties. NO, the reason for gridlock is closed primaries. Open the primaries to all voters and gridlock will disappear overnight. I know that 'non-partisan' sounds benevolent and some who support this are well intentioned. It is, however, a farce intended to keep critical information from voters.
Whatever party one belongs to is PUBLIC RECORD in Florida per Statute 119. In fact I have obtained the full database of Lee county voters and I can tell anyone in Bonita if they are registered as REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT or NPA (No party affiliation). When Ben Nelson ran 4 years ago he was happy to get the ORCHESTRATED support of DEMOCRATS (thanks Martha!). So lets stop the hypocrisy.
Jude
jude1#221154 writes:
Bonita Springs - Non Partisan? Really?!
Just read below.
____________________________________
FLORIDA DEMOCRAT PARTY
Party Congratulates New Democratic Mayor of Bonita Springs
Apr 10, 2008
For Immediate Release: April 9, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Last night, in the heavily Republican city of Bonita Springs, the people elected the Democratic challenger over an incumbent mayor by an overwhelming margin. Though more than 50% of the voters in the city are registered Republicans, Democrat Ben Nelson, Jr. won 63%-37% in relatively high (34%) turnout, run-off election.
"The Florida Democratic Party congratulates Ben Nelson on his impressive win and wishes him the best as he leads the city of Bonita Springs through this Republican recession," Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman said. "Florida voters continue to vote for real change, and Democrats are winning, even in the most traditionally Republican areas of the state."
Nelson's win follows other recent Democratic victories in conservative Southwest Florida. In November, Democrats defeated an incumbent Cape Coral city councilmember by almost 20 points. A hat trick in Venice, where almost two-thirds of the voters are Republicans, prompted the Sarasota Herald Tribune to proclaim: "Democrats continue to chalk up surprising victories in Sarasota County, further eroding the area's reputation as a Republican stronghold." [Sarasota Herald Tribune, 11/9/07]
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.