Two Candidates File Paperwork For 2022 City Council Race

Interest in the 2022 Marco Island City Council race appears to be off to a quick start, with at least two candidates throwing their hats into the ring. Both Board Chairman Erik Brechnitz and Councilor Greg Folley have filed their paperwork for the November elections.

Brechnitz, who was elected in 2018, is completing his first term on council. For three years of his four-year term, Brechnitz has served as Council Chairman. He fulfilled his campaign promise to fill the long-vacant City Manager position, which had been a source of acrimony in the years prior to his arrival.

Brechnitz, a resident of Marco Island since 1995, brought to council a considerable amount of local government experience. He served as Chairman of the Marco Island Planning Board before running for council in 2018.

During his professional career, Brechnitz has served as a Senior Vice President for Raymond James and Associates. During his first term on council, Brechnitz was instrumental in forming the Marco Island Parks and Recreation Foundation. Moving forward, the Foundation may be a source of funding for capital improvement initiatives within the city’s park system.

Greg Folley was first appointed to Marco Island City Council in June of 2020, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former City Councilor Sam Young. Due to City Charter provisions, Folley was required to file and run for that seat during the next regular election, held in November 2020. Folley ran unopposed for the two-year seat and is now completing the full four-year term left vacant by Young’s resignation.

Folley’s resume is long, spanning over 40 years. It includes an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received an honorable discharge following an injury while in attendance. 

Folley receive his undergraduate degree and went on to graduate from the Notre Dame School of Law. His experience includes working as part of the White House Staff under President Reagan. 

Folley retired from Caterpillar Corporation as a Vice President, after years of serving in various positions in the corporation. 

He and his wife Margo are fulltime Marco Island residents. 

It is expected that more candidates will be filing shortly to run in the November 2022 Marco Island City Council elections.