Candidates skip forum
Candidate forums and debates are an American tradition and a way for voters to see and hear in real time candidates for political offices. So what are some candidates afraid of to not want to participate?
On June 11, 2026 the League of Women Voters, which has a long history across America of sponsoring nonpartisan candidate debates and forums, held a Lee County Candidate Forum at the Lakes Regional Library. The purpose was to hear from candidates for Lee County Board of Commissioners and nonpartisan judicial seats. The Lee County Board of Commissioner candidates who participated were: District 2 – Elliot Taylor, and District 4 – DeMaria “Princess” Artis. The Lee County Board of Commissioner candidates not there were: District 5 – Amanda Cochran, District 5 – Trish Petroski, District 4 – Brian Hammond, and District 2 – Cecil Pendergrass.Nonpartisan candidates for judgeships who participated for the 20th Judicial Circuit seats were James Stewart, Vera Bergerman, Amanda Levy-Reis, and candidates for Lee County Judge were Michael Colombo and Javier Pacheco.These events are a great opportunity to hear from people who are vying for our votes. It is understandable that people running for office have a lot of commitments, but there appears to be a trend that some candidates have a phobia to participating in bipartisan debates and public forums. Is it their handlers telling them not to participate? Or fear that their political party will not support them if they appear to reach across party lines? If candidates are afraid to meet all constituents and participate in democracy, why should they be trusted to represent all constituents? Wake up candidates, regardless if you are Republican, Democrat or No Party Affiliation, voters want to hear from you, and not just at your political party events.
Daniel Becker, Fort Myers
Candidate forums
Many thanks to the League of Women Voters of Lee County for putting on these forums.
Having just attended the forums for School Board candidates, County Commissioner candidates, Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit candidates and County Judge candidates, a number of questions have come up.
None of Terry Miller’s clients showed up for the School Board forum. None of the incumbents and a major contender showed up for the County Commissioners forum. The forums for the two judicial spots fared better as 5 out of 6 candidates were present. Is this poor attendance a result of due diligence on the League’s part or, much more likely due to the callous indifference towards the voters on the part of the missing candidates? An additional possibility is that Terry Miller instructed his candidates to go into hiding.
How is a voter able to make an informed decision in the voting booth when candidates hide from them? Is this an indication that they have something to hide? Should their failure to attend be one of the factors in a voter’s decision?
Could it be that they did not think that a relatively small venue was worth their while? (Or voters are not worth their while.) All of the forums were broadcast live and are available on the League’s website, so the number of voters the candidates in hiding missed may be far greater than they calculated.
As a side note, I thought the questions at the three forums on Saturday were far more pertinent than the questions at the School Board forum.
This is a continuing example of how the politicians you voted into office try to keep the voting public at arm’s length and in the dark. They rely on keeping their office based on name recognition and catchy slogans based on their knowledge that the voting public does not do their due diligence. It’s a shame that voters so easily give up their most precious right in such a manner.
Norman Cannon, Fort Myers
Legislative branch powers
I recently spent time reviewing the positions and backgrounds of Republican candidates for Congressional District 19. Amazingly only two candidates (Hawatmeh and Lauf) discussed issues unrelated to their absolute support for Trump. And even these two appeared uninterested in the views of their constituents offering no way to give them input. So I would like to offer input to all the candidates via this newspaper. I want to know which candidate will act to support and enforce the legitimate powers of the legislative branch as laid out in Article 1 of the Constitution. We only have a working democracy if all three branches exercise their constitutional obligations. Hopefully one of the candidates will express their view on the topic so I can decide who to support in the upcoming primary.
Lee Johnson, Naples
It’s a knee slapper
Jim Oberweis is in the process of vying for the seat in Florida’s 19th Congressional District in the coming midterms. I only know this because I happened to see one of his campaign ads on the tube this morning. I don’t normally pay much attention to political ads, but this one was a doozy. In it, a well-known minister was extolling Jim and Donald Trump as leaders and “family men.” Well, for all I know, Jim may be both, but Trump … a family man??!! That’s a good one. If this guy’s a family man, then I’m the answer to the Heat’s woes at shooting guard. Put me in, coach. The Donald has been a proud, self-professed womanizer and sexual predator out loud, in public and without regard to marital status for as long as I can remember, and I’m old.
But back to the aforementioned minister for a moment. I’m sure he’s a sincere man of God in his day job; but if I may, I’d like to suggest a side gig for the preacher. A promising second career as a stand-up comic is within easy reach for him. I’m an aficianado of the comedy art form, and I haven’t seen a funnier bit than Trump as family man in forever. This is one humorous pastor. My wife and I have tickets to see Dov Davidoff at a local comedy club soon, but I fear the preacher may have ruined the evening for us. Dov is one of the smartest stand-ups out there, but what can he possibly come up with to top the pastor’s side splitter. Anyway, if you find yourself needing a good belly laugh in these dark days (and who doesn’t), check out Jim’s ad and the comedic clergyman. You won’t be sorry. It’s a knee slapper.
Geremy Spampinato, Naples
Replacing nature with plastic
It’s hard to believe that FGCU is replacing natural grass with artificial turf. Has the university considered the impact this could have on local wildlife by eliminating part of the natural food chain? Whatever happened to FGCU’s commitment to “Collaborating for a Sustainable Future” and “advancing environmental stewardship” as posted on their website?
Francis Callahan, Estero
Police Pension Plan underfunded
Marco Police Pension Plan is underfunded by $2.6 million. Based on the information I was given, no one has asked to question as to how this was allowed happened. This Council has no idea since they lack the history of Marco Island. Who knew about the deficit and when? The only people that should have known is the current city manager and Councilor Mr. Polumbo. And when did they know about it. The underfunding of the Police Pension Plan began in FY 2022. It appears that the city manager and the seven councilors are trying to figure out how to fund the pension shortfall. It can’t be funded from the $23 million General Obligation Bond, because that is dedicated funds, if it is approved by the voters. I don’t believe it can be funded by ad valorem taxes due to the spending CAP limitations. It can’t be funded using the Emergency Fund, since it occurred since FY 2022, and no one knew about it. Is this something the auditors could have picked up? My opinion: The budget is the city manager’s responsibility! It is the city manager’s responsibility to present various options on how to fund the Police Pension Plan to 100%; present those options to City Council for their review. The only solution I can recommend, is we stop resurfacing roads and use those funds to fund the Police Pension Plan shortfall.
Amadeo Petricca, Marco Island
Priorities upside down
I had a surprisingly complicated experience recently at a Truist bank in Fort Myers. I walked in with what I thought was a simple request: break a genuine U.S. $20 bill into two rolls of quarters. Instead, I was asked and demanded to present a government-issued ID or no go on getting the quarters. Apparently, turning $20 in U.S. cash into coins now requires identity verification — as if I might be running an underground quarter-trafficking operation.
It was one of those moments where you pause and think, “Really? This is where we are?”
What makes it even more ironic is how this compares to voting in Florida. If you show up to vote without proper ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot. As long as officials later confirm you’re registered and in the correct precinct, your vote counts. In other words, you can participate in choosing the President of the United States with fewer immediate hurdles than getting $20 worth of quarters at your local bank.
Meanwhile, Truist Bank seems to operate on the assumption that every small transaction could be tied to some type of money laundering, fraud, or terrorism. Because nothing says “high risk” like laundry money. Standards have nothing to do with common sense.
And now, as lawmakers push for stricter voter ID requirements — adding citizenship verification and narrowing acceptable forms of identification — it raises an obvious question: how did we end up in a place where buying $20 coins feels more regulated than voting?
Somewhere along the line, common sense left the building. When routine financial transactions treat ordinary people like suspects, while our civic processes allow for reasonable flexibility, the inconsistency becomes hard to ignore.
I understand the need for safeguards, I might pose a hazard to the banking world seeking to exchange $20. But requiring ID for pocket change while debating access to the ballot box feels like we’ve flipped our priorities upside down.
If anyone at the Federal Reserve would care to chime in, please do so.
K. F. Kitchen II, Cape Coral
Debbie Jordan for School Board
If you are a Lee County parent, educator, or student, you likely have met or had the opportunity to speak with Board Member Debbie Jordan. Currently running for reelection in District 3, Jordan is a longtime Lee County resident. She was educated in Lee County, and her grandchildren now attend schools throughout the School District. She is recognized widely for her commitment to engaging with community members countywide and is often found at events honoring students, staff, and community partners. She solicits and responds to invitations for forums that connect her with community members on new and ongoing areas of concern and opportunity for Lee County schools. And she is an outspoken proponent of public access to the Board during the Board’s deliberation and decisions-making sessions.
School Board Member Jordan’s understanding of community expectations with regard to public schools informs her work at the School Board table — evaluating School District policies and the impact of policy and budget decisions made by the School Board. With decades of small business ownership and community development experience, Jordan has built relationships deep and wide within Lee County. She is sensitive to the impact financial decisions have on staffing and programs, especially understanding the differences between needs and wants within the constraints of the District budget. She seeks and supports efforts to collaborate with political and corporate partners to expand resources for educators and families served by the School District.
Member Jordan’s work with the Community Partnership Schools is a great example of her commitment to tackling obstacles to student achievement by expanding access to non-traditional resources. With her active participation, the Lee County School District, UCF Center for Community Schools, Lee Health, and United Way are partnering to provide financial and in-kinds resources needed by schools to improve learning outcomes.
School Board leadership is a significant responsibility. Thoughtful, informed decision-making about the use of taxpayer funding to support public education is needed. School Board Member Jordan has provided ample evidence of her leadership ability. I served with Board Member Jordan and I ask you to give her your support and vote in the the August primary on August 18.
Cathleen O’Daniel Morgan, Lee County School Board Member 2012-2024
Jason Bailey for Marco Council
It is without reservation that I am supporting Jason Bailey for Marco Island City Council. I’ve known Jason for over 12 years while living on Marco Island. He built my first home back in 2014 and then another home for me in 2021. My experience working with him was nothing but positive and professional. Since that time, I’ve had the opportunity to observe Jason in his role as chair of the Marco Island Planning Board, and how he clearly places the community first while simultaneously achieving an analytical-based and pragmatic conclusion when weighing tough decisions. Jason has clearly demonstrated the ability to stay in tune with the resident’s concerns when reviewing matters and issues before the Planning Board. I’m confident that he will handle his role on City Council in the same manner. In fact, his voting record on the Planning Board speaks for itself. He’s opposed excessive variances, obscure site uses, and questionable site plans that would intrude upon residents’ quality of life. At the same time, he has supported projects by reasonable-minded business owners whose proposals are consistent with our codes. This type of balanced perspective is what we need. Lastly, Jason also commands an impressive knowledge of our city’s Land Development Code, Comprehensive Plan, and Charter. He certainly won’t require any on-the-job training! For all of these reasons, I’m pleased to support Jason Bailey to be a Marco Island City Councilor, and I hope you’ll join me.
Edward Dublois, Marco Island
Bill Poteet for state rep
This letter is written in support of Bill Poteet who is running for State Representative, District 82. I have had the greatest pleasure knowing Bill Poteet since we went through our Leadership Collier, Class of 2021 together. We have remained professional colleagues collaborating on numerous governmental and legislative matters.
Bill Poteet is one of the most well informed, ethical, respected and committed Collier County community members I know! His exceptional ability to collaborate, coupled with his legislative knowledge and genuine love for our community would be of matchless benefit as our District 82 state representative! Collier County will reap the greatest reward from his service.
Kathleen Curatolo, Naples
Self-inflicted wounds
In 1995, the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and ten state health departments covering about 54 million people initiated a program called the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, or FoodNet. They monitored eight pathogens.
On July 1, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overseen by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that CDC would no longer track infections caused by cyclospora and five other common causes of foodborne illnesses. Now the CDC monitors only salmonella and toxin-producing E. coli. The cyclospora parasite is one which the CDC no longer monitors.
The United States is currently in the grip of an outbreak of the cyclospora parasite, which causes severe diarrhea and has sickened more than 3,000 people across the U.S. That number could be much higher. But, we don’t know because our CDC does not monitor it. And, we cannot trace it to a source because we no longer monitor it; and many may die because we no longer monitor it.
Back on May 3, 2016, Senator Lindsey Graham posted on social media: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed… And we will deserve it.”
Sally Lam, Naples
‘Conservatives?’
How much taxpayer money have “conservatives” spent on gilding and modifying the White (Peoples) House in the last 18 months? How much taxpayer money have “conservatives” spent on attacking other nations in the last 18 months? How much taxpayer money have “conservatives” spent on presidential airplanes in the last 18 months? How much have “conservatives” reduced our national debt in the past 18 months? What is fiscally “conservative” about the last 18 months?
Rob Woolley, Fort Myers
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Candidates skip League of Women Voters forums | Opinion letters
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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