Collier Commission candidates quietly collecting money for 2010 election

Candidates for Collier County Commission’s 2010 race are remaining relatively quiet. Or, they’re letting their contributions and activities speak for them.

Two seats are up for grabs: District 2 North Naples slot currently held by Frank Halas, and the District 4 Naples city proper seat occupied by Fred Coyle.

The election is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2010, more than one year away.

Halas has not yet announced plans to retain his place at the dais. Coyle has.

The District 2 slot has two candidates, as does the District 4 seat.

All four candidates are Republicans and all advocate a cut in government spending.

Attorneys Joe Foster and Georgia Hiller are both running for Halas’ District 2 position. As of Sept. 30, Foster and Hiller, had collected relatively equal sums of money: Foster, $17,200 and Hiller, $17,424.

Thursday, Foster said he was humbled by the support he’s received.

The economy is clearly the greatest issue for county residents, Foster said. In fact, he has supporters who simply can’t afford to contribute financially to his campaign.

Foster said he’s touched by the people who have told him they wish they could contribute.

Hiller has been very public, showing up at County Commission meetings and speaking out in favor of common sense and tighter budgets. She also attends numerous advisory committee meetings.

Hiller could not immediately be reached for comment. Foster has taken in $225.62 in in-kind contributions, which are provided services, compared to Hiller’s $35.99.

So far, the big race appears to be the one between Coyle and challenger Lavigne (pronounced La-veen) Ann Kirkpatrick for Coyle’s District 4 seat, which encompasses Naples city proper.

Coyle has raised $30,435 while Kirkpatrick has collected $10,260. Coyle has also collected $1,316 in in-kind contributions, and Kirkpatrick has collected $934.

Kirkpatrick is Collier’s Republican State Committeewoman, marketing manager for Avow Hospice and is serving an appointment by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Florida Board of Nursing. Kirkpatrick could not immediately be reached for comment.

One of Coyle’s big issues in this campaign is traffic.

“Take a look at a map of Collier County. How many north-south and east-west roads do you see: Only six in the area west of Collier Boulevard,” Coyle said. That’s because the county doesn’t have a traditional road grid, he said.

There are several prominent residents who have said they might declare for Halas’ slot once they are certain he will not seek re-election.