EITA and Chamber holding forums for Town council candidates
There are two candidate forums being held next week to provide the community with the opportunity to meet the four candidates running for two seats on the Town Council.
The candidates running for the Town Council March 5 election include Dan Allers, Dennis Boback, Rexann Hosafros and Ray Murphy.
Estero Island Taxpayers Association is hosting a Meet the Candidates forum Monday, Feb. 11, at Beach Baptist Church, 130 Connecticut Street.
Executive Director Beverley Milligan said the goal is to have the candidates speak about issues and their position and why they are running in an open forum where people can ask questions and learn more about the candidates.
The forum starts at 6 p.m. with appetizers provided by Mango Street Inn and an opportunity for the public to meet the candidates and have some one-on-one conversations with them.
The forum will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The moderators are Ed and Kim Ryan. Ed is the editor of Radio Ink Magazine and recently launched Podcast Business Journal. The couple host Beach Talk Radio every Saturday morning at Pete’s Time Out.
Milligan said the moderators will ask the Fort Myers Beach Town Council candidates questions to see how they feel about certain issues, which will help their members and other interested parties make informed decisions at the polls.
After the forum, she said they will have some wine and the remaining appetizers available should anyone want to stay behind and talk to the candidates more one-on-one to get more clarification, if needed.
“A lot of people are not public speakers (and are not) comfortable asking questions in a public venue like they are doing,” Milligan said. “We thought it would be nice to have a little after social, so everyone gets information that they need.”
The forum will be streamed live on the Estero Island Taxpayers Association Facebook page, allowing the public to view the event. She said it will also be streamed live on Beach Talk Radio.
Milligan said she wants to thank Mango Street Inn and the Ryan’s for volunteering to make the experience comfortable and educational.
The Estero Island Taxpayers Association holds monthly meetings with an issue relevant to the island. She said they tackle the issue by bringing in people of expertise that can answer questions.
The Commotion by the Ocean candidate debate will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Fish-Tale Marina Propeller Lounge. A meet-and-greet with the candidates will be held before the debate begins.
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said they wanted to hold the debate because they are the voice of the business community, residents and visitors.
“It is important to give the candidates and voters the ability to see each other in person, so the voters can make informed and educated decisions,” she said.
The debate also allows the candidates to appear in a different setting on a different part of the island, she said. By having the debate, the community will have the opportunity to see what the candidates look like when they are up on the dais formulating their answers and platform at that given moment.
“The election is very important this year. We have excellent candidates giving their time, talent and energy to sit on the council. It takes a lot of time and energy, so it is important to choose wisely,” Liszak said.
The community is invited to send their questions for the candidates to intern@fmbchamber.com. She said they will take questions until Monday, Feb. 11.
“That way we can give the candidates a question and they can think abut them,” Liszak said.
A moderator, a member of the community that had not yet been chosen yet, will begin asking the four candidates questions at 6:30 p.m. The submitted questions will be picked at random during the event by the chairman of the Board of Directors.
Following the debate, there will be time for questions and answers, as well as discussions on the floor. The community will also have time to visit with the candidates after the debate concludes.
Liszak said the Royal Palm Coast Realtors Association will provide refreshments and a cash bar will be available inside the restaurant, Fish-Tale Waterfront and Dining.