2010 Marco City Council Election News for Marco Island, FL from Marco Eagle

About the 2010 Election

A narrow gap between two candidates continued to shrink as a recount of Marco ballots for the City Council election ensued Thursday, Jan. 28. However, after about three hours of manually recounting approximately 2,300 votes, the preliminary results as released Tuesday night will stick.

The winners of the Marco Island City Council election are incumbent Chuck Kiester, Joe Batte and Larry Magel. The council-elects will join Rob Popoff, Frank Recker, Jerry Gibson and Wayne Waldack for their first council meeting on March 15.

Voting was by mail only. Ballots were mailed to voters on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Mail ballots are due back to the Supervisor of Election's Office by 7 p.m. Jan. 26.

The Marco Eagle and marconews.com covered the election live Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. Click the links below to read blogs from around Marco:

Joe Batte is hoping the third time really is a charm. Batte, 68, is kicking-off his third campaign to vie for a seat on the Marco Island City Council. Batte lost the 2008 election by a small margin. He says he is anticipating a "quieter campaign" in 2010. The last election was a referendum on the septic tank replacement program (STRP), he said. "I'll support voters' decision." Batte serves on several city advisory committees, including the audit committee. Click here to read more about Joe Batte »

Incumbent Ted Forcht, 49, wasn't able to hold back the forces that brought the sewer project to Marco, but it didn't stop him from trying and won't stop him from taking on his next endeavor as he vies for re-election to City Council. Forcht became the second to file for the 2010 candidacy. The self-described "simple country boy" from Kentucky has served on council for nearly four years. "If they hadn't been digging up my front yard to put in a sewer, I wouldn't be on council. I thought they were strong arming the sewer down our throats." Click here to read more about Ted Forcht »

Marco City Councilman Chuck Kiester eyes a long-term planning initiative for Marco as he vies for reelection. He is best known for opposing the septic tank replacement program (STRP) when he believed upgrades to the then-recently purchased water utility should have been the priority, but now, he is eyeing Marco's future, bringing his background to the forefront. The former city planner from the Midwest says two principles guide his perspective on Marco's future. "As in all ecosystems, community diversity equals stability," Kiester says. Click here to read more about Chuck Kiester »

Larry Magel, a man who says he's not political, is the first to officially file the paper work with the city and become a Marco Island City Council candidate for the January 2010 election. What's his rush? "Nobody knows me," said the 67-year-old running for his first political office. Magel is a self-proclaimed "bad golfer," who is enjoying retirement, time with his three grandchildren in Estero and Orlando and more than anything-- enjoying going from a hectic career on Wall Street to the calm, beautiful setting of Marco Island. Click here to read more about Larry Magel »

Amendments

Voters will choose whether to approve seven proposed amendments to the city charter in a mail-in ballot election with ballots due Jan. 26. Click here to read more about the amendments »

2010 Marco City Council Election

Stories
Media

Steve Thompson lands Tennessee job about a month after being fired from Marco city manager job Published 6/9/2010 at 4:30 p.m. 16 comments
In late May, about one month after city council voted to terminate Thompson, he was chosen as the new director of the Municipal Technical Advisory Service at the University of Tennessee’s Institute for Public Service.
Former City Councilmen: Marco’s greatest trials became its greatest triumphs Published 3/26/2010 at 2:56 p.m. 11 comments
It was a tumultuous time in Island politics when former Marco Island City Council members Ted Forcht and Rob Popoff began their terms. “Four years ago was a dark time in our life cycle here and we have come so ...
Polls/ Live blog: Marco considers to fee or not to fee in budget talks Updated 3/15/2010 at 9:12 p.m. 0 comments
Words of wit from Marco City Councilman Frank Recker kicked off the first few moments of the newly elected council members' terms this afternoon. Marco is considering charging fees to use Canine Cove, particularly for off-Island residents and is also ...
Polls: New council members take seats on Marco Published 3/12/2010 at 1:21 p.m. 4 comments
Six weeks after Marco’s City Council election, Larry Magel and Joe Batte are eager to get to work at their first council meeting on Monday, joining the reelected Councilman Chuck Kiester.
PHOTOS: Preliminary results stick in Marco ballot recount Published 1/28/2010 at 2:39 p.m. 2 comments
A narrow gap between two candidates continued to shrink as a recount of Marco ballots for the City Council election ensued Thursday morning.
It’s official: Kiester defeats Forcht by 7 votes in Marco ballot recount Updated 1/28/2010 at 8:53 p.m. 0 comments
A narrow gap between two candidates continued to shrink as a recount of Marco ballots for the City Council election ensued Thursday morning. However, after about three hours of manually recounting approximately 2,300 votes, the preliminary results as released Tuesday ...
PHOTOS/DOCS/BLOG: It's official, Kiester wins in Marco ballot recount Updated 1/28/2010 at 1:48 p.m. 17 comments
Now that both the machine and manual recounts are concluded, final results affirm the three winners in the Marco Island race for City Council are: Joe Batte, Chuck Kiester and Larry N. Magel.
Incumbent candidates dreading Marco ballot recount Updated 1/27/2010 at 7:35 p.m. 1 comment
Marco City Council incumbent candidates Ted Forcht and Chuck Kiester say they wish the ballot recount scheduled 9 a.m. Thursday wasn't happening to them. They are friends.
Two new Marco council members elected, recount pits two incumbents Updated 1/27/2010 at 12:11 a.m. 30 comments
Marco Island is getting two new members to join the current City Council, but who will occupy the third open seat remains uncertain.
BLOG: Marco Island City Council Candidate Joe Batte on election night Updated 1/26/2010 at 8:05 p.m. 0 comments
The 2010 Marco election marks the third attempt by candidate Joe Batte, 68, to vie for an open city council seat. Batte will be at a non-election-related event Tuesday night with the Knights of Columbus at San Marco Catholic Church. ...
BLOG: Marco Island City Council Candidate Ted Forcht on election night Updated 1/26/2010 at 8:26 p.m. 0 comments
Incumbent Ted Forcht, 49, wasn’t able to hold back the forces that brought the sewer project to Marco, but it didn’t stop him from trying. The self-described “simple country boy” from Kentucky has served on council for nearly four years. ...
BLOG: Marco Island City Council Candidate Chuck Kiester on election night Updated 1/26/2010 at 7:35 p.m. 0 comments
Marco City Councilman Chuck Kiester, 69, eyes a long-term planning initiative for Marco as he vies for reelection among the four candidates seeking three open seats. Kiester plans to be at the Old Bombay Club on Bald Eagle drive awaiting ...
Photos/Docs/BLOG: Marco Island City Council election too close to call Updated 1/26/2010 at 1:52 a.m. 3 comments
A recount will be in the works for the Marco race. Two of the three open City Council seats have been decided as have the seven City Charter amendments, but as to who will win the third open seat-- Marco ...
BLOG: Marco Island City Council Candidate Larry Magel on election night Updated 1/26/2010 at 6:41 p.m. 0 comments
Larry Magel, 67, was the first candidate to officially file paper work with the city to become a Marco Island City Council candidate for the 2010 election. He plans to be in Naples during the tallying of election results Tuesday ...
Election time: Voters today to decide election winners, losers in Bonita and Marco Published 1/26/2010 at 6:00 a.m. 0 comments
Election day is here for voters in Bonita Springs and on Marco Island. Bonita voters in districts 1 and 3 will choose between two candidates each for City Council and all Bonita residents can vote on 10 charter amendments. Polls ...
Reports of out-of-state election contributions misleading, readers say Published 1/14/2010 at 2:42 p.m. 5 comments
Marco campaign contribution reports stir debate.
Forcht also has out-of-state contributors in Marco race Updated 1/14/2010 at 1:51 p.m. 18 comments
Marco council candidate Larry Magel continues to lead the pack in getting campaign contributions; however, he is not the only one with out-of-state backing. Incumbent Ted Forcht also received contributions from four out-of-state supporters.