Elections

So-called soft money failed to take down Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah in 2008. Again. Full story »

More Lee County residents voted early or by absentee ballot during the November election than actually went to the polls on Nov. 4.
Supervisor of Elections Sharon Harrington told the business PAC Business People United for Political Action Committee that there were about 148,000 votes cast either early or by absentee, compared with 123,000 cast at the polls. "We had 318,727 active voters," Harrington said. "There were almost 78,000 inactive voters. We had potentially almost 400,000 people." Harrington said voters cannot expect a perfect election, but should be able to demand an honest and fair one. "Voters have the right to an election that reflects the common will," she said. Full story »

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be commerce secretary, adding a prominent Hispanic and one-time Democratic presidential rival to his expanding Cabinet. Full story »

More Floridians voted for John McCain than Barack Obama on Election Day, but the Democrat sealed his victory in the state by winning more early and absentee votes. Full story »

Many more Floridians voted for John McCain on Election Day, but Barack Obama sealed his victory in the state by winning more early and absentee votes. Full story »

The state Elections Canvassing Commission made President-elect Barack Obama's victory in Florida official right on schedule Monday, just 13 days after a nearly glitch-free election. Full story »

Years of public service have brought him to this: Assistant Scout Master of Naples Boy Scout Troop 165. For former state Sen. Burt Saunders, the moniker is as important, if not more so, than any the Naples Republican has ever held. And the list is pretty lengthy: Collier County attorney, Collier County commissioner, state representative, state senator, committee chairman and Congressional candidate. As the Nov. 4 election ushered in a new legion of leaders from the nation’s first black president to a Republican banker from Naples who will take over his Senate seat, Saunders said he’s looking forward to spending more time with his boys, including twins he is helping become Eagle Scouts. Full story »

With more than 20,000 ballots to recount, it was a two-day process, but by the end of Friday evening, Collier County elections officials were able to determine a winner in the race for Seat 1 on the Golden Gate Fire Rescue and Control Commission. Incumbent Commissioner Robert “Rob” Stoneburner held on to his narrow lead. Full story »

Caveat emptor. President-elect Barack Obama cruised to an easy victory Nov. 4 on the strength of his “change” mantra, but many online ticket brokers are looking to score a lot more than just some spare change to witness the swearing-in of the country’s first African-American president on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C. Full story »

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is among the candidates that President-elect Barack Obama is considering for secretary of state, according to two Democratic officials in close contact with the Obama transition team. Full story »

With more than 20,000 ballots to recount, it was an all-day process, but by the end of Thursday afternoon, Collier County elections officials were still unable to determine a winner in the race for Golden Gate Fire Rescue and Control Commission Seat 1. Full story »

Ballot recounting for close races in Collier County continues this morning, but Wednesday’s process determined winners in the Fiddler’s Creek and Lely communities. Overseen by Collier County Judge Rob Crown and Collier Supervisor of Elections Jennifer Edwards, the elections office had to recount ballots for a tie in the Fiddler’s Creek Community Development District Seat 4 race as well as a very close contest for Lely Community Development District Seat 5. Full story »

Machine recounts of two local races will be conducted beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday by the Collier County Canvassing Board.
Full story »

Naples residents of all ages, races, religious affiliations and genders partied Sunday night in unity at an annual dinner in East Naples. It was a joyous party, and it would have been more so, if Amendment 2 had been defeated on Tuesday. You see, revelers enjoying each other’s company were all members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders, known as PFLAG. And this gathering was about the joy of acceptance and unity. Full story »

President-elect Obama plans to use his executive powers to make an immediate impact when he takes office, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas. Full story »