Republican incumbent Burt Saunders and Richard Conover, an independent running with no party affiliation, are competing to represent Collier County Commission District 3. All voters in District 3, regardless of their party affiliation, may vote in this race.
Find your County Commission district here.
For an introduction to the Board of County Commissioners, read my primer, The Collier County Board of County Commissioners.
In this Post
Below, you will find the following information to help you learn more about the candidates:
- Bios and key issues
- Endorsements
- In the news
- Websites and social media
- Responses to Sparker’s Soapbox questionnaire
- Campaign finances
More information and analysis may be added in the weeks ahead. Check back for updates before casting your vote.
Burt Saunders (Republican)
Burt Saunders, 75, earned a degree in physics from the University of South Florida, a law degree from William and Mary Law School, and an LL.M. from the University of Miami Law School.
Saunders has served Collier County and Florida since moving to Naples in 1982. He was successively elected to two terms on the Board of County Commissioners (1986-1994), two terms in the Florida House of Representatives (1994-1998), and served a total of ten years in the Florida Senate (1998-2008).
In 2008, he returned to private life. He practiced local and state government law as a partner with the GrayRobinson Law Firm until 2016, when, “recognizing the need for principled and mature leadership,” he again ran successfully for the County Commission.
Saunders was unopposed for reelection in 2020; he is now seeking a third term.
His civic involvement has included service with the Leadership Collier Foundation (Board of Directors; Leadership Development, Vice Chair), Enterprise Florida, Inc. (Board of Directors), Neighborhood Health Clinic, Inc. (Advisory Board), The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Project HELP (Advisory Board), and Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida (Advisory Board).
Key Issues
Saunders strives “to provide the leadership necessary to meet the needs of a growing population and to protect the County’s precious natural environment for future generations.”
According to his website, his vision includes:
- keeping Collier safe
- fighting for our veterans
- improving infrastructure
- stopping overdevelopment
- improving our neighborhoods
- protecting our environment
- addressing mental health needs
- increasing local representation
Endorsements
Saunders is endorsed by the Naples Better Government, Southwest Florida Professional Firefighters & Paramedics, Collier County Medical Society, and Collier County Citizens Values PAC.
In the News
- Burt Saunders to focus on traffic, growth, environment if reelected to Collier commission in District 3, Naples Daily News, 9/29/24
- State retains contractors for Collier veterans’ nursing home ahead of approval, Naples Daily News, 9/26/24 (Saunders has been leading the county’s effort on the 120-bed project.)
- Collier commissioners take steps to improve road safety, Naples Daily News, 9/26/24 (Saunders proposed a three-pronged approach to address the growing concerns about traffic, which commissions approved unanimously.)
- Collier board votes to condemn Florida abortion amendment. Here’s who said what, Naples Daily News, 6/11/24 (Saunders said the amendment is confusing, overbroad, and “shouldn’t be part of the Constitution in the first place.”)
- Collier County’s proposed election changes stir heated debate over voter fraud claims, NBC-2.con, 4/34/24 (Saunders said the resolution is so flawed, “we need to start all over again.”)
- ‘Our mini Trump’: How Republican farmer Alfie Oakes became Collier County’s kingmaker, Naples Daily News, 2/19/24 (Saunders knows that “running afoul of Oakes can have consequences.”)
- Negotiations with nonprofit to redevelop, reopen Golden Gate golf course move ahead, Naples Daily News, 2/13/24 (Saunders is a driving force behind the project, which is in District 3.)
- Proposal for limited building moratorium to address traffic woes fails in Collier County, Naples Daily News, 1/24/24 (Saunders’ initiative died lacking a second vote, despite overwhelming public support.)
- Collier Commission changes course, declaring the county as a “Bill of Rights sanctuary”, Naples Daily News, 8/23/23 (Saunders, after rejecting the ordinance once before, cast the only no vote.)
- Collier board votes to roll back property rates, and cut money for Conservation Collier, Naples Daily News, 2/22/23 (Saunders cast the only no vote.)
- Collier County ends months-long legal action against high-profile Naples grocer Alfie Oakes, Naples Daily News, 3/24/21 (Saunders was BCC chairman when the County’s mask ordinance was passed.)
- Collier Commission extends mandatory mask mandate, WGCU.org, 9/4/20 (Saunders was one of three commissioners who voted to extend the County’s mandatory mask order.)
Websites, Social Media, Other Resources
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
- Commissioner website
- GreyRobinson website
- Opinion: First-of-its-kind veterans’ service center planned, by Burt Saunders via Naples Daily News, 6/30/24
- Opinion: Re-evaluate our governmental structure in Collier County, by Burt Saunders via Naples Daily News, 2/25/24
Richard Conover (No Party Affiliation)
Richard Conover, 60, graduated from high school in New Jersey and, in 2007, received the State of Florida Agent 2-20 (Resident General – Property, Casualty, Surety, Marine, Health and Miscellaneous Lines) and Life Insurance license.
That same year, he and his wife opened their State Farm Insurance Agency.
Conover’s community activities involve music, which, he says, “has a wonderful power to bring people together.” Since Hurricane Ian struck in 2017, he has used music to help neighbors recover from devastating circumstances. One example is his formation of MusicAlive SWFL, a relief fund dedicated to musicians and the music industry that was wiped out in the hurricane. He also supports animal rescues by performing free of charge at animal-related events and charities.
In addition, every Sunday, his office condominium hosts the Golden Gate Farmers Market.
Key Issues
According to his website, Conover’s areas of focus as a county commissioner would be:
- ending the rezoning madness,
- roadways that work for us, and
- end charter school loopholes
Endorsements
Conovers’ website has a Testimonials page that includes comments from local residents.
In addition, according to a Facebook post, Conover has been endorsed by the Seed to Table grocery store.
In the News
- Collier Commission candidate Richard Conover vows to end residential rezoning, Naples Daily News, 9/29/24
- Conover wins MIACC straw poll, Conover website and MIACC (Marine Industry Association of Collier County) Facebook, 5/25/24
- Collier Board denies moratorium for busy East Naples roads, FOX4Now.com, 1/23/24 (Conover speaks as member of the public in favor of moratorium at BCC meeting.)
- Musical protest against rezoning project in Collier County, WINKNews.com, 1/8/24 (Conover organizes protest.)
- Golden Gate neighbors continue their fight against rezoning, FOX4Now.com, 1/7/24 (Conover organizes protest.)
Websites, Social Media, Other Resources
Soapbox Questionnaire
Both candidates completed my Sparker’s Soapbox candidate questionnaire:
I encourage you to read their complete, verbatim responses. Below are several of the Q&As, edited for brevity.
Q: What is THE most important issue facing the Board of County Commissioners today and how will you address it?
Saunders
Managing growth while providing affordable workforce housing and protecting our natural environment.
Conover
The deleterious effects of residential rezoning and a lack of funding for crucial roadway projects. I pledge to build consensus with the other commissioners to end residential rezoning and fund roadway projects.
Q: Name one past policy decision of the Board of County Commissioners that you disagree with that you would like to change if elected. Why?
Saunders
The policy of taking funds from Conservation Collier for other budget purposes. Conservation Collier was a 77%-voter-approved policy that helped the County preserve critical environmentally sensitive lands. It also helped reduce development in areas that impact the County’s drinking water supplies, provide natural barriers to saltwater intrusion into our drinking water suppliers, and deal with storm surges due to hurricanes and rising sea levels.
Conover
The Board’s recent adoption of an Animal Abuse Registry comes woefully short of doing anything that will make a real difference. We need a Task Force that will actively investigate reports of animal cruelty and prosecute these crimes. We need penalties that include jail time.
Q: What actions, if any, should the County take to address the need for affordable housing? What actions should the County not take with respect to providing housing?
Saunders
The County should not mandate that a portion of a project have a certain amount of affordable housing. Instead, it should provide incentives such as density bonuses, impact fee deferrals, or waivers.
The County should also form public/private partnerships where it can provide the land for an affordable housing project.
Conover
The County should not be in the land development business, but it should do things to help, like reducing property taxes.
Commercial areas that are ready for renewal and prepared for the ingress/egress can bring affordable housing to the County while breathing new life into these areas.
Q: What are your views about the role of government as they relate to the policies and actions of the Board of County Commissioners? How would these views influence your actions and decisions as a Commissioner?
Saunders
The County should stick to the areas in which the Commission has authority (jurisdiction) instead of areas of policy that are politically popular. For example, since the County has no authority to legislate or regulate firearms, we should resist any efforts to legislate in that area.
Conover
Local government should be laser-focused on maintaining our roadways and government buildings and providing basic services, police, fire, education, budgeting, filling vacancies, and most importantly long-term land use and planning.
Candidate Forums
Sometimes, questions are asked in candidate forums that provide information that is not otherwise available. Watching and listening provides additional insight.
Both candidates participated in a candidate forum on May 8 co-hosted by Greater Naples Leadership and Collier Citizens Council on behalf of a coalition of local community organizations. Over 90 minutes, their positions on issues, strengths and weaknesses, similarities and differences became apparent.
I summarized what I learned about the candidates from their opening and closing remarks and responses to the questions. Watch the forum recording here; read my summary here.
Campaign Finance
Here is a summary of the candidates’ filings to date:
I reviewed each candidate’s contributions and expenditures. Of note:
- Saunders received 50 contributions of the maximum of $1,000 (list here), including two from political committees (GrayRobinson and Apartment Political Action Committee).
- Nearly two-thirds of Saunders’ contributions ($55,090) were from individuals, and he contributed $10,200 of his own funds.
- Conover self-funded 85 percent of his campaign to date.
- All of his 30 contributions were in amounts of $500 or below. One $500 contribution was from a political action committee, the Marine Industries Association of Collier County (MIPAC).
Next Steps
If you are a District 3 voter, it’s time to review the available information and make your decision on which candidate to vote for. I hope this research has been helpful. Thanks for wanting to be a more informed voter!