Local Group Hosts Candidate Forum

Citizens for a Better Marco (CBM) gathered on Friday, August 5 at the Collier County Library’s Rose Auditorium for its first in a series of Marco Island City Council candidate forums. The forums allow citizens the opportunity to meet the candidates and ask questions. Other candidate forums sponsored by CBM will be announced once those dates are set. 

Marco Island City Clerk Michael Sheffield recently announced that the time period had closed for potential candidates to collect the required signatures to qualify and file to run in the November election. Although the Collier County Supervisor of Elections conducts and supervises the election, the qualifying documents are filed with the City Clerk.

There are five candidates for three available seats in the election to be held on November 8, which coincides with the other local, state and federal elections.

Candidates who have filed the necessary paperwork and petition signatures and qualified to run are Erik Brechnitz, Christine Dowell, Greg Folley, Darrin Palumbo and Nanette Rivera. The top three vote getters will be elected to fill those seats.

Erik Brechnitz was the first candidate to address the gathering last Friday. Brechnitz and his wife are longtime Marco Island residents. Brechnitz presently serves as the City Council Board Chairman. He has served four years on council, with three of them as chairman.

Brechnitz confessed that when he first ran, he thought that he would only serve one term in office. “I’ll be honest, I was 80 years old, and although in good shape then, I didn’t want to commit to more than that. I wanted to move us forward and deal with the issue of hiring a professional city manager for the city and we did. I also want to bring a sense of professionalism to the council, which I felt was dysfunctional at the time. I think we’ve done that, and as I look ahead, I feel my health is excellent and I feel great. I also feel there is more to do, and I want to participate in finding those solutions,” said Brechnitz.

Brechnitz wasn’t surprised when the second question concerned the Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance. He shared that he felt the tone and tenor of the debate on this issue has been less than positive. He reminded those in attendance that he voted in favor of having the residents vote on the issue. He stated that he saw some flaws in the proposed ordinance but committed to working on making it a functional piece of legislation, should the voters pass the referendum.

Time and time again, residents rose to convey their experiences, not only with problem renters, but with enforcement issues under the current ordinances. Brechnitz agreed that enforcement would be the key to the effectiveness of any existing or future ordinances.

The issue of water quality was also raised. Brechnitz pointed out that although work is progressing, the solutions are complicated. He noted that council is continuing to work on paying down the debt service that contributes to the island’s high water costs. He advised that he has been working on the potential acquisition of the small private utility in Old Marco in an effort to forestall any potential issues due to its age. “These aren’t the type of things that gain any notoriety or giant pats on the back, but they are the right things to do,” said Brechnitz.

Several people in the audience raised the issue of trust. “A recent citizen survey showed over 60 percent of the island didn’t trust council,” said Jane Hansen, while others asked what he would do to fix it. “I think the fact I am standing here in front of you is part of doing that,” said Brechnitz, as the event drew to a close.

Citizens for a Better Marco will announce a schedule for upcoming forums to allow residents to meet the city council candidates. Coastal Breeze News will keep readers informed in our weekly editions and through our website at www.coastalbreezenews.com.