What’s New in the 2024 Election Cycle in Collier County, Florida?

In the upcoming City of Naples mayoral race, three candidates are vying for the position. Notably, Bill Kramer, the renowned former football coach of Naples High, has filed as the sole candidate for the three city council seats.

In the county, there is a change in leadership for the position of Property Appraiser, as the long-serving 99-year-old Abe Skinner has not filed for re-election. However, Julian L. Stokes, son of his longtime assistant by the same name, has stepped forward as a candidate. Additionally, four individuals, all registered Republicans, have entered the race for Collier County Commission seat 3, currently held by Commissioner Burt Saunders.

Collier County’s political landscape boasts 134,378 registered Republicans, 53,684 Democrats, 66,892 No Party Affiliation or other. Statewide, as of October 31st, there are 5,153,695 registered Republicans, 4,473,665 Democrats, and 3,925,923 registered as Other, marking a significant 680,030 Republican advantage over Democrats in Florida. It’s noteworthy that Florida, prior to November 2021, had more Democrats than Republicans.

A notable development is the launch of the Democrat Party of Florida’s $1 Million Voter initiative a month ago. Despite this effort, Republicans lead registered Democrats by 111,979, indicating that the Democrat message may not be resonating effectively in Florida.

As the March election approaches, including the presidential primary and the City of Naples election, it’s crucial to stay informed. For a complete list of offices up for election in Collier County, Click Here. To access the list of declared Republican candidates on the ballot, Click Here.

City of Naples Issues:
Examining the issues relevant to the City of Naples, the governance of the current City Council emerges as a focal point. Concerns have surfaced regarding excessive oversight of city staff, diverting their focus from receiving clear directives from the city administrator and promptly taking action. The frequency and duration of council meetings have also raised questions about their impact on staff productivity.

Notably, some council members appear to reiterate their rationales for support or denial, even after decisions have been reached, suggesting a desire to be heard at the expense of efficiency. These concerns shed light on the challenges facing the City of Naples as the election cycle unfolds.

Given recent events, including the horrific attacks against Israel in the Middle East and devastation to the Big Bend caused by Hurricane Idalia here at home, there were several issues that warranted our attention in advance of the Regular Session.  Last week, the Florida Legislature convened for Special Session C to demonstrate our support for Israel, provide critical hurricane relief and expand the capacity of the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities.

We passed four bills with overwhelming, bipartisan support, and Governor Ron DeSantis signed these measures into law this week.  I am grateful for the strong partnership we have with Governor DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner, which enables us to act quickly to address urgent needs of our state and nation.  Unlike the dysfunction we so often see in Washington, when challenges come our way here in Florida, our Governor, Cabinet, and Legislature work together.

House Bill 1C: Disaster Relief by Senator Corey Simon

As demonstrated after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the Florida Senate is committed to helping Floridians rebuild from devastating storms in every manner possible. In response to Hurricane Idalia, the Florida Senate passed House Bill 1C, providing necessary funding and tax relief to the communities who need it most. The Florida Senate is meeting the challenge to support our rural and agricultural communities that have been devastated by Hurricane Idalia.

HB 1C provides over $30 million to address the gap in federal funds, ensuring that Floridians who have been devastated by Hurricane Idalia are not left behind by the federal government.

HB 1C grants tax relief to Floridians on building material purchases, provides refunds of motor fuel taxes used for agricultural shipments and debris removal and lowers farmer’s tax bills on agricultural equipment that they cannot use due to the impact of the storm.

The legislation expands funding for rural infrastructure in impacted counties, ensuring that small towns and communities across the Big Bend are able to rebuild their farms, roads, schools, and economies.

It also expands the My Safe Florida Home Program through an additional appropriation of over $170 million. This program empowers Floridians to make their houses more resilient to natural disasters, potentially lowering insurance costs.

 

House Bill 3C: Family Empowerment Scholarship Program by Senator Jay Collins

Since House Bill 1 passed in the 2023 Regular Session, Florida has seen record numbers of families benefit from enhanced school choice opportunities now offered to every Floridian. House Bill 3C expands opportunities to Students with Unique Abilities, ensuring that all Florida students have access to a full array of school choice opportunities that meet their unique needs.

A record number of families have been able to receive the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), a critical program that ensures students with unique abilities have access to school choice opportunities tailored to their needs, as determined by their parents.

HB 3C allows for a greater number of students and families to receive funding under the FES-UA program and removes the cap on funding that families can receive, increasing access and opportunity for those students with unique abilities.

To address the demand for the unique abilities portion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship, families will now have until December 15, 2023, to apply for scholarships in the current school year, in order to be funded by February 1. Ensuring adequate time to apply for and receive scholarship funding.

HB 3C provides critical support to some of our most vulnerable student populations. This legislation builds upon HB 1 passed during the 2023 Legislative Session to ensure access to quality education options, regardless of income, zip code, or circumstance.

 

House Bill 5C: Scrutinized Companies by Senator Bryan Avila

Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and played a critical role in the horrific terror attacks on Israel by Hamas. This legislation takes a strong stance against the Iranian regime and makes it clear that Florida in no way will support corrupt, tyrannical, and terroristic countries who diametrically oppose American national security and seek to wage proxy war through radical terrorist groups.

The Biden Administration’s unsteady leadership and failure to implement sanctions, most notably, their decision to unfreeze $6 billion to the Iranian regime, has empowered Iran to further support Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region.

With House Bill 5C, Florida is stepping up to hold the Iranian regime accountable for their support of terrorism. As is the trend, when Joe Biden falters, Florida stands up and delivers.

HB 5C expands upon current sanctions maintained by the State of Florida by requiring the state to divest all assets with companies in certain sectors that receive even a tenth of their revenue from or invest a certain dollar threshold into the listed Iranian industries. These restrictions are the strongest allowable under federal law.

This legislation ensures that the State of Florida will not invest in any companies that support the Iranian regime and their sponsorship of terrorism in the Middle East and around the globe.

 

House Bill 7C: Security Grants by Senator Alexis Calatayud

Through this legislation, the Florida Senate makes it clear that anti-Semitic violence has no place in Florida and we are committed to protecting Jewish Floridians from threats of violence. As the threat of anti-Semitism grows following the horrors of Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Florida Legislature is providing critical funding to keep our Jewish community safe.

Following the horrific terror attacks on Israel, there has been an increase in anti-Semitic violence across the country and even here in Florida.

The Jewish people have historically faced persecution and horrors that most can never imagine. The Florida Senate cannot stand by and let our Jewish friends, neighbors, and loved ones be in harm’s way.

No Floridian should feel scared to attend their place of worship or school. The Florida Senate is committed to protecting our Jewish neighbors from violence.

House Bill 7C appropriates $15 million to full-time Jewish Day Schools and preschools for hardening security measures and $10 million for non-hardening security measures. Funds can purchase and install security infrastructure, perimeter lighting and fencing, materials for door hardening, security cameras, barriers, blasé-resistant film, and shatter-resistant glass. This legislation also includes funding for increased security personnel and training.

 

Florida Leads the Way in Supporting Families and Communities

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprovoked attack on Israel and brutally murdered, tortured, and raped over 1,400 innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

Florida stands firmly with the people of Israel and our own Jewish communities across the state. This resolution makes it unquestionably clear that Israel has every right to defend itself from the threats facing their people and country, and Florida will stand arm-in-arm with them as they seek victory and peace.

Senate Resolution 8C supports the right of the State of Israel to exist as a sovereign and independent nation, including the right and obligation to defend itself, with the full rights and privileges afforded to all nations under international law.

SR 8C demands the immediate end of any direct or indirect financial support of Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, or any entity that publicly supports these attacks and other terrorist activities.

This resolution rejects and condemns threats against Jewish people, institutions, and communities in Florida, the United States, and abroad.

SR 8C states that the State of Florida is proud to have the third-largest Jewish population in the United States and continues to cherish a long-standing bond and alliance with the State of Israel.

 

The Florida Legislature has returned to Tallahassee this week for additional committee hearings.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance.

Respectfully,

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate President
State Senator, District 28

With all the chaos occurring across the world and the focus on the back & forth of the Speakers race back home, I have some great news to share about the Republican Party back here in Florida.

Little background…On August 1st, the Florida Democrat Party launched and hyped a $1 Million statewide voter registration effort.

We had been curious how their efforts would impact the state voter registration numbers and with the state releasing the official numbers today, I will share there was an impact on voter registration… As The REPUBLICAN PARTY continued to EXPAND our voter registration lead by adding another 37,588 to our margin from September 1st to September 30th. Embarrassing for the Democrats, but well deserved considering just how vile and radical the Democrat Party has become. Read below for the full story of where Florida is trending!

-Christian Ziegler
Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

Florida GOP’s Voter Registration Surge Dominates, Leaving Democrats in the Dust!

In under five years, the political landscape of Florida has been transformed. In September alone, the Republican Party of Florida added another 37,588 to our voter registration advantage, bringing our lead over Democrats to 626,518 as of September 30. This isn’t just a shift; it’s a seismic movement. Florida doesn’t merely lean red; it radiates a deep, darker red.

STATEMENT BY FLORIDAGOP CHAIRMAN CHRISTIAN ZIEGLER:

“It’s evident that the Democrat Party is on the path to extinction in our state, and their recent initiatives, such as the ‘Take Back Florida’ campaign, seem more like a $1 million can of snake oil sold to their donors, rather than genuine outreach.

Despite the noise, the clear message is that Floridians cannot distance themselves fast enough from the radical Democrat Party. Why? Well, it turns out that allowing the invasion of our country from the south while indoctrinating, sexualizing & mutilating children as prominent members of their party carry Hamas’ water just isn’t popular in our state, and the monumental swing of 956,946 voter registrations toward the GOP since 2016 proves that.

This shift in voter registration is good news not just for us today but for my daughters’ generation as we further continue to establish a sanctuary of sanity and freedom here in Florida. With that said – while the momentum is no doubt on our side, there’s no room for complacency, and The Republican Party cannot relax until every Democrat is out of office and no Democrat considers running for office in Florida.” – Christian Ziegler, FloridaGOP Chairman.