Marco Island City Council Elections

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Marco Island City Council

Updated 11/1/22 1:14PM; 11/2/22 1:50PM

Erik C. Brechnitz, Christine Dowell, Greg Folley, Darrin Palumbo, and Nanette Arlene Rivera are running for three seats on the Marco Island City Council. The election is nonpartisan and the top three vote-getters will win.

Only Marco Island residents may vote in the election.

I begin this post with several opportunities for you to learn the candidates’ positions on important local issues. Then I provide overviews of their backgrounds, platforms, and endorsements, and links to their online presences, campaign finance reports, and news articles found through a Google search. I close with a comparison of the candidates’ cumulative campaign contributions and spending.

In their Own Words

All candidates responded to the League of Women Voters of Collier County Vote411 questionnaire (links below). Compare the candidates’ responses to the questions in a side-by-side format here.

All candidates responded to three questions asked by Coastal Breeze News (Meet the Candidates for Marco Island City Council, Coastal Breeze News, 10/26/22). Compare the candidates’ responses to the questions in a side-by-side format here.

All candidates also participated in an Oct. 13 Candidate Forum presented by the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors, the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Marco Island Civic Association. See Candidate forum: City Council hopefuls answer questions, Marco Eagle, 10/17/22.

Four of the five candidates responded to my Sparker’s Soapbox Candidate Questionnaire (links below); Brechnitz did not.

Erik Brechnitz

About

Erik Brechnitz
Brechnitz

Incumbent councilor Brechnitz, age 83, served in the U.S. Air Force after receiving a B.A. from the University of Missouri. Over a 55 year career in the financial services industry including senior vice president positions at Morgan Stanley, Kemper Securities, Blunt Ellis & Loewi and Loewi & Co., he now heads the Brechnitz Group at Raymond James in Decatur, IL.

Brechnitz has been a resident of Marco Island since 1995. He was first elected to City Council in 2018 and is running for a second term. His long history serving the Marco Island community also includes two terms on the City Planning Board, and he currently chairs the Marco Island Community Parks Foundation.

During his first term on City Council, he says, “I have continually advocated for the civility and quality of council meetings. My constituents and I have worked tirelessly to keep the millage rate consistent, keeping your taxes at a lower rate whenever and however we can. My work with the council has made what was previously a revolving door position of City Manager into an ongoing, positive relationship with the City Manager for the past 3 years.”

Before moving to Marco Island, Brechnitz served on the Decatur, IL, City Council for 10 years, after which he was elected mayor.

Brechnitz and his wife have two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Platform

According to his website, Brechnitz’s goals for the next four years are to:

  • Control density and intensity;
  • Make sustainable progress on canal water quality;
  • Institute uniform traffic control solutions; and
  • Continue holding the line on government growth, spending, and taxes.

Candidate Questionnaire

Brechnitz did not respond to my Sparker’s Soapbox candidate questionnaire.

Campaign Contributions

View Treasurer’s Report filings on the Marco Island website here.

Endorsements

Brechnitz does not have endorsements on his website, but a Google search found a 9/29/22 endorsement letter to the editor of Coastal Breeze News by current City Councilor Claire Babrowski.

Online Presence

In the News

“Councilor Brechnitz was elected unanimously by council, and for the first time since the establishment of cityhood, a single individual will have held the gavel for three of the four years of his council term.” Council Elects Brechnitz for Top Spot, Coastal Breeze News, 11/4/21

Christine Dowell

About

Christine Dowell
Dowell

Dowell, age 66, received a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from Barry University and had a 40-year career as a nurse. Since moving to Marco Island from Illinois in 2019, she has been an advocate for citizens’ rights as president of Citizens for a Better Marco. Earlier, she was a Co-Founder of Bureau/LaSalle (IL) Tea Party and of F.A.I.M – Families of Amputees in Motion (Chicago).

Platform

Dowell’s website lists eleven things she “will strive to” do if elected. The first four listed are:

  • Ensure that there will be a genuine advocate for the Citizenry of Marco Island.
  • Consider, research and vote accordingly on issues that are in the best interest of Marco Island Voters, not special-interest groups that have profit incentives.
  • Rein in out-of-control spending in areas that were not approved by nor are directly beneficial to the Citizens of Marco Island.
  • Give the Citizens of Marco Island an unobstructed VOICE through their local government, including the right to address their grievances without intimidation.

Candidate Questionnaire

Asked to name one past past policy decision of the board she disagreed with and would like to change, Dowell said:

“It is the ineffectiveness of the council to move forward to effective action towards solutions to Marco’s poor water quality in the waterways. There has been much taxpayers’ money spent on two water studies without any attempted projects towards resolution. Just recently there was a vote to allow a RFI that has been proposed by a councilor, the Waterways Committee and Clean Marco Waters LLC. There was also a vote to obtain more data collection points further offshore from Marco.

“The reuse nutrients have been discussed for some time now. Both Naples and Everglades City have systems in place to reduce their nutrient levels that Marco Island needs to accomplish that marker.”

Campaign Contributions

View Treasurer’s Report filings on the Marco Island website here.

Endorsements

Dowell has been endorsed by incumbent City Councilmen Rich Blonna and Joe Rola and by Clean Marco Waters, LLC.

Online Presence

In the News

“When we moved here and started seeing and feeling the impact of what it was like to live next to a business instead of a neighbor,” Dowell said, “it moved us to do something.” Upcoming vote on future of Marco Island short-term rentals, WINK News, 7/19/22

“I have never lived in cities where I’m responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house, and it was kind of appalling to me,” Dowell said. Marco Island discussing responsibility for sidewalk maintenance, WINK News, 2/15/22

“In earlier public comments, Christine Dowell suggested former councilor and current planning board member Larry Honig should resign…” City Council Vice-Chairman Jared “Grifoni responded, saying Dowell’s social media posts are ‘vitriolic, they’re false, they’re filled with lies and misrepresentations,’ and her ‘personal attacks on me and my family … was really disturbing.’” More noise about noise: Council advocates ‘Marco midnight,’ sends ordinance back to staff, Marco Eagle, 8/25/21

Greg Folley

About

Greg Folley
Folley

Incumbent councilor Folley, 63, attended the U.S. Naval Academy, then earned a B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Two decades later, he attended the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program.

Early in his career, Folley served in all three branches of the federal government. He then practiced labor and employment law for ten years before going on to lead large employee teams in 18 countries for several companies, including American Airlines and Caterpillar, Inc.

Folley was appointed to fill a vacancy on City Council in June 2020 and was elected to the position that November. He is now running for a full four-year term.

In addition to his current Council service, Folley serves as the Marco Island representative and Vice Chair of the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization. His volunteer activities also include service on the Boards of Catholic Charities of Peoria, IL, Eureka College Trustees, and American Red Cross, Central Illinois Chapter.

Platform

Folley describes himself as a Marco Champion for Conservative Values. The Issues page of his website lists:

  • Lower property taxes;
  • Smart development;
  • Cost effective government;
  • Support for police officers and firefighters; and
  • Better water quality.

Candidate Questionnaire

Asked to name one past past policy decision of the board he disagreed with and would like to change, Folley said:

“Repeal of rental registration ordinance in 2015, following ill-advised decision to expand coverage to include condos.”

Campaign Contributions

View Treasurer’s Report filings on the Marco Island website here.

Endorsements

A Google search found a 9/29/22 endorsement letter to the editor in the Coastal Breeze News by current City Councilor Claire Babrowski.

Online Presence

In the News

“Councilor Greg Folley expressed concern for pulling homeowners’ rights away with no warning, under the subordination clause, and engaged City Attorney Alan Gabriel in a discussion of restricting the STR to just one specific zoning district and having different rules for homes when being used as a rental.” City Council hears first reading of rental ordinance, Marco Eagle, 10/19/22

“I felt we need to have a reasonable registration ordinance on the books to just ensure that rental property owners that rent their properties are compliant with applicable law,” Folley said. Marco Island’s short-term rental ordinance must go to City Council first before becoming law, Fox4.com, 4/25/22

“I’m very pleased to see the state strongly supporting property rights,” Folley said. Updated lighting standards, penalties: City Council discusses new sea turtle ordinance, Marco Eagle, 2/25/22

“All of a sudden, every minor problem with the sidewalk is going to turn into a major concern,” Folley said. Marco Island discussing responsibility for sidewalk maintenance, 2/15/22

Darrin Palumbo

About

Darrin Palumbo
Palumbo

Palumbo, age 52, attended Middlesex County College, Rutgers University, New Jersey Realty Institute, Bert Rogers Real Estate School of Florida, and Florida Mortgage Brokers Institute. He is also a graduate of the Market Wise Stock Trading School and holds special designations in the real estate, financing, and securities fields. He is a 25-year resident of Marco Island.

After a 32-year career in finance, mortgages, real estate, securities, insurance, new construction and land development, he is now an owner of Sweet Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour on Marco Island.

As a former member of the City’s Waterways Advisory Committee, Palumbo says he “helped to draft much-needed ordinances to ensure that Marco Island could service our over 100 miles of sea walls and ensure the protection of our environmentally sensitive waterways.”

Platform

According to his website, Palumbo’s priorities are

  • Maintaining low taxes and smaller government. (See here.)
  • Protecting the future of Marco Island for the next generation.
  • Addressing infrastructure challenges and managing growth.
  • Preserving our environment, wildlife and waterways.
  • Working to ensure Marco Island’s interests are represented at the county and state levels.

Candidate Questionnaire

Asked to name one past past policy decision of the board he disagreed with and would like to change, Palumbo said:

“I would have liked to have seen City Council treat sidewalk maintenance and repair differently and let the people decide whether they would like to shift the responsibility from the homeowner to the City. What people may not realize is that Marco, in addition to being a very wealthy community, also has many residents of modest incomes and retirees who are living on fixed budgets. For this reason, I think the City Council should have supported the proposal to put the maintenance of the sidewalks to a referendum and let the people decide how they wanted to pay for them. I believe this was an opportunity to lay the issue to rest once and for all and council neglected to take the steps to go forward with it.

Campaign Contributions

View Treasurer’s Report filings on the Marco Island website here.

Endorsements

Endorsements mentioned on his website include local businessman Arne Sandberg and Commissioned US Officer and former Lely High School student Vanessa Alverez.

Online Presence

In the News

“We went from losing every game and giving up more than 100 goals to winning almost every game and scoring more than 100,” Manta Rays coach Darrin Palumbo said. Marco Island Academy girls soccer team becoming local powerhouse, Marco Eagle, 2/1/20

“Palumbo forwarded the $1,000 donation to the boys’ program because his team had met its fundraising goal for the school year.” One Good Turn Leads to Another, Coastal Breeze News, 11/22/19

Nanette A. Rivera

About

Nanette Rivera
Rivera

Rivera, age 64, earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA in Finance & Accounting from the University of Chicago. Over a 40-year career in the pharmaceutical industry with Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb and Abbott Laboratories, she progressed from entry engineer to Corporate VP of Supply Chain Strategy.

Since retirement, Rivera has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Big Cypress Basin Board and Vice-Chair of Marco Island’s Planning Board. She is also a Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger, and is active with the San Marco Church Columbiettes and the Marco Island Power Squadron, among other organizations.

She says her strength is in helping organizations to focus on how to deliver high-quality services and value to those they serve.

Platform

Three things Rivera hopes to accomplish, according to a Solutions page on her website, are:

  • Restore the health of our waterbody by bringing back oxygen levels and eliminating algal blooms…
  • Build the “finest” quality-of-life in our community by addressing several evolving issues:
  • Improve transparency & productivity in our city government with metrics that proactively define issues in a more fact-based manner with less politics…

Candidate Questionnaire

Asked to name one past past policy decision of the board she disagreed with and would like to change, Rivera said:

“ The city council of Marco Island has neglected the Short-Term Rental problem for years. It required that the residents pass a referendum to force the council to act. Over a year ago a motion was proposed at a council meeting to adopt a simple 4-page ordinance like the ordinance that passed at Collier County. This motion was defeated. If that motion had passed, Marco would have avoided the massive effort and disruption that it has taken to get this issue on the path to being resolved. We are not done yet. Now we have a 17-page ordinance. This is a textbook example of ineffective and inefficient government.”

Campaign Contributions

View Treasurer’s Report filings on the Marco Island website here.

Endorsements

The Endorsements page of her website shows video endorsements by Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and several residents, as well as endorsement by Clean Marco Waters, LLC. A Google search also found an endorsement by former Marco Island City Councilor (2004-12) Dr. William D. Trotter.

Online Presence

In the News

“I am against increasing the size of government in dumb ways.” Guest Commentary: My Position on City Taxes and Spending, by Nanette Rivera via Coastal Breeze News, 10/13/22

“If we continue to measure and make our decisions based on total nitrogen and phosphorous, we will continue to get it wrong,” Rivera said. Marco Island City Council discusses resident surveys, water quality and more, Marco Eagle, 1/26/22

“I am honored and very excited to be tapped to work with such a high caliber and professional group,” Rivera said. Governor DeSantis Appoints Nanette Rivera of Marco to Big Cypress Basin Board, Coastal Breeze News, 12/24/20

Campaign Finance

Here are the monetary contributions and expenditures reported according to the candidates’ most recent campaign treasurer’s reports:

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 any of the candidates directly through their websites if you have any questions.

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