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MARCO ISLAND — Craig Woodward made one thing clear right from the start.
"I'm not a replacement ref," he told the crowd at the City Council candidates' forum on Tuesday evening.
He was, however, a last-minute, or at least same-day, stand-in for the scheduled moderator, Dick Shanahan, who had to bow out due to an issue with hearing, but watched from the front row. Woodward pointed out he had experience in his role, having moderated the very first City Council candidate forum 15 years ago, when there were no incumbents and approximately 30 hopefuls sought seats.
The event was sponsored by the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors and the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce, and held, like last week's MICA-sponsored forum, in the Rose History Auditorium.
Also like last week's forum, one candidate was missing, in this case Ken Honecker, away on a cruise. Unlike last week's session, the absent candidate did not have an opening statement read by a surrogate. And with a different set of sponsors, the questions for the candidates reflected more of the business mindset to be expected from the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce and the real estate industry.
The candidates on hand, Jerry Gibson, Larry Honig, Paul Meyer, Amadeo Petricca, Frank Recker, Larry Sacher, Duane Thomas, and Wayne Waldack, each led off with an opening statement. From these, and their responses to questions over the two-hour forum, patterns emerged, with various candidates identifiable by their focus and signature issues.
Paul Meyer, chairman of the city's Parks Advisory Board and with elementary-aged school children, is the parks candidate, and as he said, "I'm representing the youth of the island."
Marine contractor Duane Thomas is closely connected with seawall replacement, and said in his closing statement, "I'm amazed we didn't have more seawall questions. We're going to spend over $100 million in the next five years on seawalls."
Marco Island Property Owners' President Larry Sacher spoke out for lower government spending. He mentioned over and over the dire economic condition of the country, until even he said, "I'm starting to sound like a broken record."
Larry Honig stressed his business experience and ability to work with anyone, and repeated more than once, 'I am a fiscally frugal conservative."
Amadeo Petricca spoke of his participation in numerous city panels, and his intimate familiarity with the details of the city budget. "I've submitted the most public record requests of anyone on the island, and often, I don't get an answer," he said.
The incumbent councilors have their records to run on. Jerry Gibson spoke of representing the whole community. "I'm not a boater, but this is an island community," and needs the safety a proposed fire/rescue boat, with the emphasis on rescue, would provide, he said.
Incumbent (and attorney) Frank Recker said that, when he served as council chairman, "I requested to go forward with a consultant" to help determine utility rates, and not having done so would have left the city vulnerable to lawsuits.
Incumbent Wayne Waldack emphasized the need for "out of the box" solutions, noting his participation in organizations including the Florida League of Cities, and the ideas that he brings back from them.
The absent Honecker is an expert on utility rates, and has been a voice for greater transparency in city government.
The discussion remained almost uniformly collegial, with moderator Woodward holding the candidates to the time limits for their remarks, and cautioning the audience against outbursts of applause during the forum.
With the forum held on the cutoff day for registration in time to vote in the election, Nov. 6, the supervisor of elections office had a booth out front before the event began, offering citizens the chance to register. So during the "meet and greet" session prior to the formal discussion, attendees could get cookies, water, and voter registration forms. Melody Vertefeuille, manning the booth, said she had not yet encountered any unregistered residents, no surprise considering the purpose of the meeting.
The MIAAOR/MIACC forum filled virtually every seat in the Rose auditorium, but didn't quite bust out at the seams like last week's MICA event. The forum was carried live on 98.1-FM, "The Island." Two more council candidate faceoffs are scheduled, an Oct. 12 event sponsored by MITA, the Marco Island Taxpayers Association, and an Oct. 16 gathering at Hideaway Beach.
May After Five, Marco Island Chamber
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 10
KlausStoertebeker writes:
" Woodward pointed out he had experience in his role, having moderated the very first City Council candidate forum 15 years ago, when there were no incumbents and approximately 30 hopefuls sought seats."
What an outstanding experience he has. But better than a clatter ghost 98 years old with hearing problems.
"Marco Island Property Owners' President Larry Sacher spoke out for lower government spending. He mentioned over and over the dire economic condition of the country, until even he said, "I'm starting to sound like a broken record."
Right statement! Right man! I vote for him!
"Larry Honig stressed his business experience and ability to work with anyone, and repeated more than once, 'I am a fiscally frugal conservative."
Not what we need. From conservative Republicans we have enough. They spend money never earned.
This guy is not my choice.
"I've submitted the most public record requests of anyone on the island, and often, I don't get an answer," he said."
Normally for an dependent syndicated controlled city. The question is: Will you change it? Under watch.
" "I'm not a boater, but this is an island community," and needs the safety a proposed fire/rescue boat, with the emphasis on rescue, would provide, he said."
Of course he is not a boater. He can not afford it. But we need NO Fire/rescue boat. Use that state of the art fire boat from Isle of Capri. Has nothing to do like a fire boat on Marco Island. But anyway. I have enough of him. Let him retire.
"Frank Recker said that, when he served as council chairman, "I requested to go forward with a consultant...."
Spend taxpayers money for useless consultants. Time to go home. Very bad service. "D"! for political stupidity.
"The absent Honecker is an expert on utility rates, and has been a voice for greater transparency in city government."
Get my vote! Right man.
"Incumbent Wayne Waldack emphasized the need for "out of the box" solutions, noting his participation in organizations including the Florida League of Cities, and the ideas that he brings back from them."
All Waldi brings back are the orders of godfather John Aceri. Waldi called that "out of the box solutions". Waldi is right. Time over. Time for Waldi to go - home. Wherever that is. And please no plagues on any spot of Marco Island for Waldi!
November 2012. Election time! In Washington GREAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA will win..
On Marco Island independent people.
To our all best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KlausStoertebeker writes:
"Larry Honig stressed his business experience and ability to work with anyone, and repeated more than once, 'I am a fiscally frugal conservative."
Republicans like Paul Ryan because they say he's a fiscal conservative, and that's a perfect balance for Romney who's a guy that has an elevator for his Cadillac s.
How can it be that America is packed with BS-iter?
We do not need this kind of people anymore.
We need
President Barrack OBAMA the GREAT
and seriously citizen concerned about Marco Island.
That's all folks!
JohninMarco writes:
Note to Gibson about the fireboat. First and most important, how did the price for this start at 250K and then go to 400K, and now the fire chief states over 400K? Is this your leadership skill?
lauralbi1 writes:
Klaus: You know, reading Mr Sacher's comments in this article and his campaign mis-statements, one wonders why he, along wiht you, is voting for Obama ??
His ideals certainly are not consistent besides being way off base as they apply to reality. I refer specifically to his comments about our Master Plan from Deltona, his past comments about a major portion of our citizenry, etc
Maybe, if he feels the way he states, he should consider voting for Romney !!!
Ed Issler
20_Days writes:
Ed,
Maybe you should not be talking about mis-statements by anybody. If I remember correctly you were one of the first to jump on the bandwagon with Glenn Tucker denying the existance of asbestos in Veteran's Park.
You also have no idea, politically where Mr. Sacher stands and to which party he affiliates himself with.
Obviously Klaus is a mindless supporter of Obama but to say anyone else plans to vote that way is nothing but a bit of mis-information on your part.
Maybe, we should just vote the slate that Larry Magel picks for us, you know which ones, the ones that have been foreclosed upon, may or may not presently live on Marco or have failed to pay their taxes due to this city.
Mainly the ones that come with all strings attached.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
I am not a mindless supporter
of PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA the GREAT!
I am a proud supporter of
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA the GREAT!
He is a real treasure for America and the AMERICAN PEOPLE. He is the light at the sky. The man with value and honor. He loves his family and is not betraying his lovely wife Michelle. Maybe something Americans can not understand anymore. He is the most reliable ally worldwide and a great friend of Germany and Berlin. He has charisma and visions. totally different to his challenger.
Mitt Romney gets a lot of criticism because he's kind of stiff, he's sort of cold, he's sort of aloof. And I thought, 'Well, wait a minute. Let's look at the bright side of this.' Mitt Romney is an inspiration to kids all over this country who sadly were born without a personality.
Do you really want a guy like Romney as local politician or a leader like
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA the GREAT!
sachcpi writes:
Just for the record to Mr. Issler: I have only met you once when you were trying to muster opposition to the Charter High School, we have never discussed national politics and you therefore have absolutely no idea who I support or don't support. Since I have completed a questionnaire from the NAPLES DAILY NEWS that will be published the record will show that I am a registered Republican, although I added the comment that I base my vote on the person and their platform, not their political affiliation.
Larry Sacher
2themoon writes:
Mrs. Watt are u listening? Ed issler is the mouthpiece for Gibson, Waldack and Recker...you know, the guys who were against your school..you know the guys you endorsed for council...par for course on Marco..dont want to offend the syndicate they may snicker at us at the next Chamber mixer....wtf...
KlausStoertebeker writes:
".... I added the comment that I base my vote on the person and their platform, not their political affiliation."
My position too. I am a fan of great President Ronald Reagan. Long time before Americans investigated what a GREAT guy he is. I was for W. Bush before he disappointed me totally. I mean by his first run he was running against the sleeping pill Al Gore. Al Gore decided to run without Billy Clinton s support. What an idiot!
But in this days I have just one hero:
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA the GREAT!
His challenger is nothing else than a joke:
President Obama the GREAT and Mitt Romney both gave commencement speeches over the last few days. President Barack Obama the GREAT was like, 'You can be whatever you want to be,' while Romney was like, 'I can be whatever you want me to be.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
What has one of the finest Ladies of Marco Island to do with the village idiot Eddi "mighty egg in your face" Issler? Everybody knows that Eddi is just the megaphone of the syndicate. He is nuts. But
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA the GREAT
will win by a landslide. M.R.:
This week Mitt Romney started giving speeches while standing in front of a giant U.S. debt clock. When asked what it was like campaigning with a large electronic object, the debt clock was like, 'Not bad.
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