Council candidates to face off Friday, Monday
Beach voters and other interested stakeholders will have two chances at two different locations to hear from five residents -Joe Kosinski, Anita Cereceda, Chuck Bodenhafer, Rexann Hosafros and Summer Stockton- who are contending for three Fort Myers Beach Town Council seats on a general election ballot on March 11.
Everyone is encouraged to first attend the Fort Myers Beach Candidates Forum at Fish-Tale Marina on Friday, Feb. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Three days later, check out the Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce “Commotion by the Ocean” forum at Town Hall on Monday, Feb. 24. A “Meet & Greet” social period will begin at 6 p.m. and the forum follows at 6:30.
Both forums will offer viewpoints, provide answers to issue-related questions and serve as a great opportunity to hear what possible representatives have to say on certain Beach matters.
The marina forum will be facilitated by Local Planning Agency Chairman Hank Zuba, marina owner Al Durrett and Dan Parker. The format for this forum on the south end of the island will allow each candidate sitting atop of built staging roughly three minutes to provide a reason why they are running, before being asked questions from the facilitators and finally questions from the attending public.
“Personally, I want to get to know these folks who are running and listen to why they want to run,” said Zuba. “A lot of us who participate on committees, commissions and volunteer want to give back a little to this wonderful place we live in. But, for a Council person who gets compensation, there has to be more interest. The real test of any candidate is to show they are willing to do the homework and attend a lot of meetings. I look forward to hearing the enthusiasm and the passion that someone may have about one issue or another.”
The Town Hall forum will be emceed by FMB Chamber President Bud Nocera. The format for this forum on the north end of the island will give candidates up to five minutes to provide background information about themselves during opening comments, then up to three minutes each to answer questions on four different Beach-related issues and up to five minutes each for closing comments. There will be prepared questions by selected members of a panel, comprised of Durrett, Steve Lisay of Holiday Court Motel, Jackie Liszak of The Sea Gypsy Inn and Alice Dixon of VIP Vacation Rentals.
“We need to get the candidates to give their positions on some of the important issues that are facing the Beach,” Nocera said. “We want to allow voters to understand their positions, so voters can make a thoughtful decision.”
Many residents have expressed that it is vitally important to hear what potential Town legislators have to say.
If you cannot make it to Town Hall, that candidate forum is televised on Comcast Channel 98, which is the area’s local government television station.