MORE ELECTIONS? Learn About the Candidates

by Charlotte Nycklemoe, League of Women Voters
and Dave Trecker, Collier Citizens Council

The 2016 election season is now in full swing, with March 15 behind us and a whole raft of contests ahead.

In Collier County alone, there will be sixteen races. At this writing, forty candidates have already filed, and more are expected before the June filing deadline. In addition, we will have up to six constitutional amendments to consider, some with important
consequences for the community.

To help voters make sense of all of this, the League of Women Voters and the Collier Citizens Council are partnering with nine
other organizations to sponsor a series of public forums to showcase the candidates and provide an opportunity for questions and debate.

HERE IS THE CURRENT LINEUP

April 7 – Florida legislative candidates: Hodges University; House Districts 80 and 106, 4-5:30 p.m.; Senate District 28, 6-7:30
p.m.

April 13 – Collier County Commission, District 3 candidates: Golden Gate Senior Center, 6-7:30 p.m.

May 3 – Collier County Commission, District 5 candidates: IFAS Extension on Immokalee Rd., 6-7:30 p.m.

May 18 – School Board candidates: Norris Center, 6- 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 – Greater Naples Fire District commissioners: Collier County South Regional Library, 6-7:30 p.m.

Sept. 29 – North Collier Fire District commissioners: North Collier Regional Park, 6-7:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 – Referendums and Constitutional Amendments: North Naples Church, 6-7:30 p.m.

Additional forums are likely, as candidates for other races declare. The forums will be open to the public, first-come, first-served in seating. They will be objective and nonpartisan, but tough questions will be asked of the candidates. Jeff Lytle, retired editorial page editor of the Naples Daily News, will moderate the forums, many of which will be televised live or videotaped for later broadcast.

So mark these dates on your calendars and plan to attend. It’s important to get to know the candidates and understand the issues.
And then to vote.

The 2016 elections will set the course for critical times ahead – in local and state government, in emergency services and in public
education. We have a lot at stake.