In this post, I provide an overview of the local races, candidates, and referendum that will be on Collier voters’ August primary ballot. Next week, I will publish On the Ballot for Collier Voters: Part 2 with an overview of the rest of the ballot.
In the coming weeks, as in prior elections, I will dive into each of the major candidates and summarize and share with you what I learn.
But in addition to reading those summaries, I think it is important for you to learn about and hear from the candidates in their own words. So in this post, I have also included links to the local candidates’ verbatim responses to my Sparker’s Soapbox candidate questionnaires.
I encourage you to take the time to look through them. You may be surprised at what you learn.
On the Ballot: Collier County Commission
The five Collier County Commissioners are elected by voters in their district in partisan elections, and serve four-year staggered terms. In midterm election years, Districts 2 and 4 are on the ballot; in general election years, Districts 1,3 and 5 are on the ballot.
Find your Commissioner District here.
District 2 Candidates
There will be a closed Republican primary for registered Republicans who live in District 2. See my post The Republican Primary: Collier County’s Most Important Election for an explanation of “closed primary.”
The District 2 candidates are:
Name | Website | Contributions through 6/10/22 | Soapbox Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reg Buxton (REP) | electregbuxton.com | $53,200 | Click Here |
| Chris Hall (REP) | chrishallnaples.com | $90,554 | Click Here |
| Gerald Lefebvre (REP) | voteforgerald.com | $7,100 | Click Here |
| Nancy Lewis (REP) | nancylewislistens.com | $74,644 | Click Here |
| Bebe Kanter (DEM) | $20,000 | Click Here |
Incumbent Commissioner Andy Solis chose not to run for reelection.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Bebe Kanter in November.
District 4 Candidates
There will also be a closed Republican primary for registered Republicans who live in District 4.
The District 4 candidates are:
Name | Website | Contributions through 6/10/22 | Soapbox Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daija Hinojosa (REP) | votedaija.com | $26,627 | Click Here |
| Daniel Kowal (REP) | votefordankowal.com | $123,055 | Click Here |
| Michelle McLeod (REP) | mcleodforcommissioner.com | $61,865 | Click Here |
| Penny Taylor (REP) – incumbent | votepenny.com | $124,915 | Click Here |
The winner will face a Write-In candidate in November. A Write-In is a candidate who seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person’s name on the ballot. No fee or petitions are required to qualify as a write-in candidate, and the name of the write-in candidate will not appear on the ballot. Instead, a blank space for voters to write the name will appear. (See image above.)
Bill Oppenheimer is the Write-In whose candidacy caused the District 4 primary to be closed. (Oppenheimer does not have a website, but see here and here.)
On the Ballot: Collier County School Board
The five Collier County School Board members are elected by all voters countywide in nonpartisan elections, and serve four-year staggered terms. In midterm election years, Districts 1, 3 and 5 are on the ballot; in general election years, Districts 2 and 4 are on the ballot.
District 1 Candidates
The District 1 candidates are:
Name | Website | Contributions through 6/10/22 | Soapbox Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly Ann Boobyer | kimberlyboobyerforschoolboard.com | $7,997 | Click Here |
| Jerry Rutherford | jerryrutherford.com | $8,960 | Click Here |
| Jory Westberry – incumbent | jorywestberry.com | $4,125 | Click Here |
District 3 Candidates
The District 3 candidates are:
Name | Website | Contributions through 6/10/22 | Soapbox Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jana Greer | votegreer.com | $13,160 | Click Here |
| Kelly Lichter | kellylichter.com | $36,095 | Not Received |
| Jen Mitchell – incumbent | votejenmitchell.com | $33,604 | Click Here |
District 5 Candidates
The District 5 candidates are:
Name | Website | Contributions through 6/10/22 | Soapbox Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Boyer | boyer2022.com | $2,050 | Click Here |
| Jackie Keay | votejackiekeay.com | $3,800 | Click Here |
| Timothy Moshier | timforcolliercountyschools.org | $71,791 | Not Received |
| Roy Terry – incumbent | voteroyterry.com | $9,195 | Click Here |
| Ana Turino | anaturino.com | $2,745 | Click Here |
On the Ballot: County Judge
Six County Judges currently serve Collier County. County Judges are elected by all voters countywide in nonpartisan elections, and serve for six-year staggered terms. One county judgeship is on the ballot this year.
The County Judge candidates are:
Name | Website | Contributions through 6/10/22 | Soapbox Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela Barger | pamelabarger.com | $71,185 | Click Here |
| Chris Brown | chrisbrown4judge.com | $97,307 | Click Here |
Incumbent Judge Michael Provost chose not to run for reelection.
On the Ballot: Local Referendum
A local referendum concerning the Collier Mosquito Control District will appear on the August ballot as follows:
Should the boundaries of the Collier Mosquito Control District be expanded to include the County’s resident population, but excluding State and Federal public lands, parks and refuges, and allow the District to levy and collect ad valorem taxes and administer mosquito control activities within the District’s expanded boundaries?
It will appear only on the ballot of voters who live in areas that are within the proposed areas. Click here for map.