Marco City Council Endorsements

Guest Commentary Banner

Posted Wednesday, October 23, 2024 8:00 pm

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Jared Grifoni

A positive vision for our island’s future cannot be hindered by the small, vocal minority that has been in opposition to everything we love about Marco Island. The silent majority knows this and that’s why the silent majority of this island has continued to elect good leaders who advance a positive vision for Marco Island that we all benefit from, from toddler to retiree. When we step into the ballot box to vote for City Council this cycle, there’s six candidates but only four real options if you reject the anti-everything mentality and want true leaders who are invested in the future of this island and have proven their commitment to our citizens through their works, unlike those who are running on hollow promises and empty platitudes.

Having served on City Council for eight years, seven of those as Vice Chairman and Chairman, I know how important experience, leadership, and active involvement with our citizens on the ground really is for City Council. Hurricane Milton has, if anything, proven that and left no doubt. I am proud to endorse the following candidates who have shown that they care about Marco Island and its future by being a visible part of its past and present:

Becky Irwin – Becky has been part of the beating heart of Marco Island for decades. She lives here and loves it here, along with four generations of her family. She has stood up for what’s right and has supported lowering taxes every year she’s been on Council and never voted to raise taxes. Becky has been a defender of our citizens individual and property rights like no other. She’s been at the forefront of community beautification projects and community events. Becky has signed the true Taxpayer Protection Pledge to protect our citizens from those pushing for ANY and ALL tax hikes. Becky has been a visible leader, helping citizens through Hurricanes Irma, Ian, and Milton.

Deb Henry – Deb is running for the first time and she has taken the true pledge to not raise ANY and ALL our citizens’ taxes. This is a wonderful and positive thing for our island families and elderly on fixed incomes. Deb has supported our island workers and fought for property rights. Most importantly, Deb has demonstrated her character by helping displaced citizens during Hurricane Ian by offering up places to live for free. She was a life line for so many when they had lost so much. She is a hardworking volunteer and supports so many of our island organizations that bring positivity and joy to our home.

Bonita Schwan – Bonita embodies her campaign tag line, Strong Credentials | Positive Leadership. Bonita is an attorney (an important skill to have when reviewing ordinances for potential flaws and limiting taxpayer exposure) who has served on the staff of the Governor of Iowa, responsibilities including budget and policy. She’s volunteered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Door of Faith Mission, Make a Wish, Marco Island Newcomers, the Marco Island Historical Society and Marco Chamber. Bonita is invested in Marco Island, unlike one of the other candidates who said he hasn’t found any charities worthy of his time on Marco Island. We need Bonita’s positive leadership on City Council. Bonita has signed the true Taxpayer Protection Pledge to protect our citizens from those pushing for ANY and ALL tax hikes.

Rich Blonna – Rich will not be intimidated. He will stand up for what he believes in and deliver it to our citizens. He has secured millions of dollars and acres and acres of property through Conservation Collier to protect Marco Island’s green spaces and protected species. He negotiated with developers to make sure Marco Island got a park site for free and that they covered maintenance for 30 years, saving our taxpayers hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars. He has been a champion of conservation and the environment, as well as the balance with our residents and businesses. Rich has worked tirelessly on City Council proposing and advancing solutions our community can embrace.

Vote for Blonna, Henry, Irwin, and Schwan for City Council and for the positive future our island needs!

Keywords

politics of the united states, politics, american politicians, government, politicians, candidates for president of the united states, tax, taxpayer, united states, americans for tax reform, american political people, marco island, florida, presidency of the united states, government finances, elections, silent majority, presidencies, executive branch of the government of the united states, political events, presidents of the united states, american political candidates, park, economy, presidencies of the united states, federal government of the united states, people associated with united states presidential elections, heads of government, political positions of american politicians, hurricane ian, united states presidential campaigns, iowa, charitable organization, income, first families of the united states, payments, tropical cyclone, democracy, society of the united states, accountability, budget, republican party (united states), legislative branch of the united states government, public finance, future, united states senate, vice presidents of the united states, species, political positions of politicians, members of the cabinet of the united states, political families of the united states, policy, political positions of united states presidential candidates, political science, economy of the united states, property, political ideologies, american political philosophy, public sphere, money, vice presidency of the united states, make-a-wish foundation, big brothers big sisters of america, political careers, state governors of the united states, heads of state of the united states, heart, united states law, political views, governance, public economics, hurricane irma, presidents, republican party (united states) presidential campaigns, members of the united states congress, taxation, defender (association football), second families of the united states, public administration, ballot, republican party presidents of the united states, law, political office-holders, republican party (united states) campaigns, executive heads of state, economies, fixed income, culture, public policy, north america, political economy, political parties, united states senators, social movements, executive branches of government, conservatism, republicans (united states), members of upper houses, chairs of upper houses, november events, political positions of united states senators, ballot box, upper houses, american nationalism, social institutions, market (economics), economic policy, trade, public law, microeconomics, democratic party (united states) presidential campaigns, ideologies, american families, fiscal policy, political activism, federal elections of the united states, democratic party presidents of the united states, politics of the united kingdom, american families of irish ancestry, finance, american families of english ancestry, heads of united states federal agencies, united states federal policy, political law, united states presidential candidates, american families of scotch-irish ancestry, activism, services (economics), cabinet of the united states, political movements, members of bicameral legislatures, politics of north america, democratic party (united states) campaigns, democratic party (united states), election campaigns, united states government officials, national presidents, national upper houses, events, right-wing politics, public sector, donald trump