Council candidates respond at Chamber forum
Four candidates for the Fort Myers Beach Town Council solidified their political positions by answering issue-related questions from panel members and two Beach Elementary School students at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Commotion by the Ocean forum Thursday evening.
On March 8, the town will have its plurality elections for three seats on the council. Incumbents Bob Raymond and Jo List are running for re-election, while Local Planning Agency’s Joe Kosinski and Beach businessman Carl Conley are vying for seats themselves. The four will hope to be among the top three vote getters.
Keep in mind that Wednesday, March 2 is the final day to request an absentee ballot from the Lee County Supervisor of Elections by calling 533-6919 by 5 p.m. There are three precincts on the island: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church; Church of the Ascension; and Chapel by the Sea. On Election Day, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The forum featured five FMB Chamber executive board members asking nine questions about Beach issues and three funny questions to add personal, yet comedic insight into the candidates’ lives. Beach school students Danielle Buchanan and Mary Jeffries also asked a question apiece. The candidates, who brought in cookies to say something about themselves, also were given one minute apiece for opening and closing statements.
Questions relating to Lee County role-playing on the Beach; Seafarer’s Mall and park; sign ordinance implementation; water system infrastructure; town ordinances; expected accomplishments if elected; and the opening of Mound House were asked when each candidate picked a panelist to reveal the question from a sealed envelope.
Here is an example of what was asked at the forum, followed by a short capsule look at the answers given:
1. Regarding Seafarer’s Mall and the vacant property across the street from it, the candidates were asked what can and should be done if elected.
List “I would like the town to be in control of those parcels because it’s a bottleneck for our traffic and an eyesore for our Beach. I would ask for information about those parcels and see if a neighboring parcel owner would work with the town should we acquire that property.
Conley “It’s one thing to get a grant to buy a piece of property or a loan, it’s another thing to maintain it and take care of it. I think the county should be working with us in the revenue sharing.”
Kosinski “I’d like to see the property dedicated as a Gulf War Veterans Memorial Park and get it funded by our local organizations. I see Seafarer’s Mall as a golden opportunity to try to address the bottleneck (on Estero Boulevard) both coming on and going off the Beach.”
Raymond “The beach portion is in progress and I’m told will be done in April. That’s going to be a very beautiful park. As far as Seafarer’s building, I think the town should have control over it, and there should be both a public and private combination to that whole corridor.”
2. How would you facilitate helping the community come closer together with one voice?
Conley “I’ve always observed a division in this town since incorporation. You have two fundamental interests that compete here. That’s the business interests that bring a lot of the revenues here and the residential interest that has tried to maintain a higher standard for residential areas. Sometimes those two interests compete. I think the fundamental issue there is to try to see that business and residents can co-exist.”
Kosinski “I think it would be our job on town council to be a good listener. When people have issues, we should be approachable. When people get upset, they want to know someone is listening and has heard them. If we open ourselves to the community more and become more approachable, we can better bring it together.”
Raymond “One of the things that anyone can do is attend the Beach Leadership Conference, where people can learn more and more how the town runs. Almost half of those people who attended last year are on committees this year. That’s how you involve the town into coming in. Another thing is the office at the Newton House. On a weekly basis, for a three-hour period, you can come in and talk to a council person about anything you want to talk about.”
List “We always recognize that there will always be differences of opinion. In my experiences the past three years, the council has worked very hard to work through those differences and come to an agreement on how we will present ourselves to the county commission and other municipalities and their officials. How we get there is by listening what people have to say about these various issues. I think it is incumbent upon the council members to listen to all the sides and come to some agreement.”
3. What would you do to repair our aging water system?
Raymond “Right now, we should know within the next month or two from a judge on the validation hearing on a referendum or if we have to pass a new one. At $18 million, we shouldn’t be paying that. It should be spread out during the course of a number of years.”
List “We have the referendum results up for validation hearing now. Should the results be validated, we will look for long-term financing for the water system. If we stuck to the three-year rule, all of us here and now would be paying an enormous price tag for that water. Long-term financing would make it much more equitable.”
Conley “I was very involved in that (referendum) process when it came along and, I think because of my legal background, I actually helped draft that referendum language. I am really hoping it does pass. That would be one of my highest priorities, because you can have an archaeology site but, if you do not have good water, forget it.
Kosinski “That infrastructure is 20-30 years old and needs to be updated. I would work 2 to 3 streets at a time, addressing the utilities and replace the water system on those streets as we go and address the drainage. The ultimate goal is to go back and redo Estero Boulevard and the side streets and working 2 to 3 streets at year to get them updated.”
4. Tell us something we would not normally know about you?
Kosinski “My middle name is ‘Caesar’.”
Raymond I’m a clown collector.”
List “I have horrible stage fright.”
Conley “I collect antique saxophones.”
During closing statements, all candidates expressed their stances in their run for office.
List- “Being on council for the past three years has given me the opportunity to find out what a lot of people are thinking in a lot of different neighborhoods on the Beach. I know we have a lot of issues before us, but all in all people in this town are very willing to come together and try to find a comprised position in just about every issue.”
Conley “I have served this community diligently for 11 years. I’ve worked with all aspects of this town -cultural, artistic, and environmental. I have a pretty good idea what needs to be done around here. If you elect me, I will go in swinging for you. We can do more and better.”
Kosinski “I’d love to contribute to this town. We have a lot of work to be done, and I think I can bring my expertise (engineer). I am a common sense kind of guy and a team player. Working with both the community and the council, we can get things done. I like what I’m seeing particularly with the north end of the island. Let’s keep this place a paradise. Together we can build a better sand box.”
Raymond “I have the best job in the world being able to represent the people in this town. What I’ve been working at for the past three years is to be able to get into better positions where I can do more for the town. That’s the reason to be chairman for the Metropolitan Planning Organization and being on the Florida League of Cities to meet the representatives and the senators. The only way the town council works well is because we are a team and work as a team.”
The chamber forum panel included Ellis Etter (time keeper), Ann Alsop, Roxie Smith, Bill Van Duzer, Fran Myers and Andrew Cochrane. President John Albion served as the emcee of the event.
A rebroadcast of the chamber forum will take place on Comcast Channel 98, starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 3.