Republican Chris Hall and Democrat Bebe Kanter are running to represent District 2 on the Collier Board of County Commissioners.
Only those living in District 2 may vote in this single-district election. Find your district here.
Chris Hall
About
Hall, 60, earned a B.S. degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University and worked in electrical wholesale and network marketing before turning to real estate investing in 2000. After selling their business, Dunamis Rental Properties, in Brownwood, TX, he and his wife Dot moved to Collier County in 2018. They have two children and seven grandchildren.
Hall survived a 2013 plane crash in rural Texas that became a life-changing opportunity. “Because of the miracle,” he says on his website, “I knew I had a purpose and a destiny that wasn’t fulfilled yet.” He is a Life Languages International Certified Coach and served as a trainer and minister with Restoring The Foundations Ministry for six years. He is now a member of Grow Church.
Platform
Hall says “God, his word, love, and ways, (virtue) has to be reinstated in our nation, our states, our counties, and cities. It’s the only way America won’t fail.
He wants to “Make and Keep Collier Free” and “Protect and Secure Your Liberties.”
His website does not have a Platform or Issues page.
Campaign Contributions
Asked at the Candidate Forum, “Would you take campaign contributions from special interest groups, such as developers?”, Hall said, “You know, the Bible says this: The love of money is the root of all evil. Money itself is amoral. It’s neither good nor bad. Anyone that wants to give to my campaign with bad motives, thinking that they can get me to do them favors, is badly mistaken. Would I accept a $1,000 donation from them? Absolutely. I’ll buy signs. I’ll buy mailers …. I can’t be bought, and I can’t be bullied.” (Forum at 00:40:34)
Endorsements
Hall was been endorsed by Conservative Christians of SWFL, Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, Florida’s Conservative Voice, SWFL Christian Activists, Republican National Forum, Christian Conservative Coalition, FLCAction, Organization Christian Family Coalition, Alfie Oakes, and DC Draino (via Campaign Email, 7/14/22) He was subsequently endorsed by the Patriot Project and the Collier County Republicans.
Online Presence
- Website — chrishallnaples.com
- Facebook — Chris Hall Naples
- Facebook Videos — Chris Hall Naples/videos
- Voter Focus Candidate Statement
In the news:
- Collier Commission candidate Chris Hall’s comments on schools, sexuality draw critics, Naples Daily News, 6/9/22; video clip
Bebe Kanter
About
Kanter, 68, earned a BA from Columbia University and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the Harvard School of Design. She was employed as a Loan Officer for Multi-Family Housing with the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Chicago and Norwest Bank (later merged with Wells Fargo). Later, she founded and ran three businesses: Quiet Collier, Inc., in 2021, and the others before moving to Southwest Florida in 2015. She and her husband have three children.
Platform
“In these challenging times,’ Kanter says, “Collier needs an urban planning expert with literacy in zoning, finance, and sociology. We need a Commissioner who enjoys working with US-born and immigrant residents and citizens, and isn’t afraid to mix with voters in Immokalee. We need a Commissioner who works with experts to make informed decisions.”
The Issues page of her website discusses her position in six areas:
- Community Resilience,
- Growth & Development,
- Water Quality,
- Workforce Housing,
- Environmental Conservation,
- Political Diplomacy
Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign Contributions
Online Presence
- Website — commissionerbebe.com
- Facebook — Commissioner Bebe
- YouTube — BebeKanter
- LinkedIn – Bebe Kanter
- Voter Focus Candidate Statement
Endorsements
Kanter’s website has a Testimonials page with statements from several people she worked with in Illinois and one 30-year Naples resident.
Campaign Contributions
Here are the monetary contributions and expenditures reported by each candidate according to their most recent campaign treasurer’s reports:
I reviewed all the campaign contribution reports online on 10/28/22. Of interest:
Hall
Hall received 263 monetary contributions: 213 from individuals, 45 from businesses, 1 from a PAC (the Marine Industries PAC), and 2 loans from himself totaling $29,346. A total of 75 contributions were for the maximum amount of $1,000.
Of the individual contributions, the occupations of 28 were “business owner,” 35 were “real estate,” seven were “finance” or “financial services,” three were “builder,” four were “insurance,” one was “restaurant owner,” one was “investor,” and three were “attorney.” One attorney was Kristina Heuser, who helped write the proposed “Bill of Rights sanctuary county” ordinance rejected by the county last year. Another was Richard Yovanovich, who represented Stock Development when it was seeking County approval for its controversial One Naples residential high-rise project.
Kanter
Kanter’s campaign is entirely self-funded. Her contributions represent two personal loans she made to the campaign.
Final Thoughts
Each of the candidates has a different reason for running and a different base of supporters. Each has different values, skills, abilities, work and life experience, and views of the role of government.
Don’t hesitate to contact either of the candidates directly through their websites if you have any questions.