Page 8 - LIN-May-June-July-2024-web-file

BILL BARNETT

t’s hard for me to believe that the winter season is over in way to becoming another Miami”. One mayoral candidate pushed
Naples and our winter residents and visitors have departed to this issue absolutely to the max and her opponent tried their best
I summer climes. Of course, it was frantic, with traffic being the to state the facts that it was a false statement. The mailers did both
number one complaint and no matter where you’re from, the City -spreading any and every untruth imaginable, and every day there
of Naples and a good part of the county are the main culprits. As were at least three or four of them in our mailbox. The real truth of
a local, I don’t pay any attention to it, I’ve lived here long enough the results of this election was there were three mayoral candidates
to have gotten used to it and it really doesn’t bother me anymore. and one of them shouldn’t have been in the race. He was in his
I’m smart enough to know I have to allow X amount of time before first term as a City Council Member and had no prior political
I leave for an appointment across town and my rule of thumb is experience. Many citizens asked him not to run and suggested he
try and get there early. Believe it or not it does happen on rare finish his term and rerun for his Council seat, which I think he
occasions but I’m never late unless there was an accident holding would have had tremendous support and could have won the seat.
traffic up. The same goes for restaurants that we like; we make our But he, unfortunately, got bad advice from a wealthy individual
reservations well in advance so there are no issues, but over the who convinced him he could win. He didn’t but took enough votes
years we prefer to dine out a lot less often during the season. The to make the final outcome between the other two candidates the
good news about this season was we had a lot more rain and cool closest a Naples election has ever been, Teresa Heitmann won over
weather than normal and our businesses and restaurants thrived Gary Price by a mere 22 votes! We are supposed to be a first class
successfully! Last night we dined at one of, if not our favorite, City but the behavior by some of our residents was anything but
steak houses in Naples, Andre’s. I have to say it was the first time first class and they should be ashamed of themselves, but they don’t
I’ve ever heard the bartender say to me he will be glad when the know any better so they won’t be. Three new Council members were
season is totally over. I laughed at him and reminded him of the elected: Former Naples High School Coach Bill Kramer, longtime
long summer months when there were empty tables galore, and he City of Naples resident Berne Barton, and Linda Penniman, who
would wish to have some of those folks back. His response was I previously served on City Council. I know they will do a great job
was right, but right now he and the staff are just plain tired. You for us, and I am happy for them. For those of you that care, there
will find this true at most of the restaurants in Naples, especially is no over-development in the City of Naples, period. I’ve been
after a successful winter. listening to that Miami threat for at least 20 plus years. It is a great
Now, after writing for months in succession about our upcoming scare tactic that happens during every election and the sad thing is
City election in March and about the candidates and their that people believe it.
qualifications (my opinion always) and how nasty it was, it's finally I’m looking forward to a quiet summer in Naples and am
over. In each article I consistently asked the voters to please do their excited about our annual trip to the outskirts of Buffalo. It will be
homework before making a selection. I think that the mailers that nice to visit the farm that’s close to us and see just how much fresh
were sent out bad mouthing some candidates and praising others corn I can consume!
totally confused a lot of voters. There was an over abundance of lies Be safe and enjoy your summer!
not just about the candidates but also about issues that were non-
existent. The biggest rumor of all which absolutely drove me crazy Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
was the “Over-development going on in Naples and we were on our I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com

8 Life in Naples | May, June, July 2024