All five candidates answered the following three questions which were created from polling within the community. Here are the responses in their words. The answers given by the candidate and the accuracy of their responses are for the reader to determine and may provide some insight as to the institutional knowledge of that candidate and his/her capacity to understand the responsibilities required to be an effective councilor.

Erik Brechnitz

Erik Brechnitz has been a full time resident of the island with his wife Nancy since 1998, coming from Decatur, Illinois. He would receive his bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Missouri. He would also do military service in the United States Air Force and received an honorable discharge.

Prior to his entry into the financial services industry, Brechnitz would serve as the Chief Operating Officer at Mid-America Corporation. Before joining Raymond-James in 2006 he would serve in a number of other senior positions at Morgan-Stanley, Kemper Securities, Blunt Ellis and Loewi and Loewi and Company.

Brechnitz has over 55 years’ experience in the financial services industry and has applied that extensive experience during his four years servicing the Marco Island City Council.

When Brechnitz first ran for council, he wanted to focus on two issues. The first being changing the demeanor of council, which he found to be somewhat dysfunctional. “It is okay to have disagreements over issues, but that council, which had several good people on it, would consistently let personalities instead of solutions block progress,” said Brechnitz.

The second issue which concerned him as much was the inability to find common ground as to how to proceed in the hiring of a competent Chief Executive Officer (City Manager) for the city. “We were adrift without a captain at the helm,” said Brechnitz.

He had told citizens when he ran, he was going to concentrate on those two issues and would be only a one term council. “I’ve evaluated my health situation and I feel great. I didn’t want to commit to a second term if I didn’t, and deep in my heart I know there are some issues that need addressing and I feel I have the experience to help to continue to improve the city,” said Brechnitz.

He and his wife Nancy moved to Marco Island fulltime in 2001 after residing part-time since 1995. He has two children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He has an extensive background in municipal government, having served on the Decatur, Illinois City Council for ten years, four of which in the position of Mayor.

Question #1:  We just celebrated our 25-year anniversary since incorporation. To create a more equitable election process would you be in favor of a Charter change that would create three districts which would elect two individuals from each district who must live within that district. In addition one individual would be elected At Large and serve as Chairperson of Council?

Brechnitz:  I would definitely be in favor of a committee to review how we could proceed to improve the election process here on the island. I think we can make it more equitable and improve the process and give citizens better representation. I believe one way to do that is to elect a Mayor as the seventh member of the Council. It has benefits well beyond running the meetings in our relationships in Tallahassee and other intergovernmental relationships. But we should be taking a hard look at this.

Question #2: The issue of the management and effectiveness of Code Enforcement has been a hot topic over a number of years and different councils. Should it be maintained and if so, how would you suggest it be improved?

Brechnitz: I would just point out that Naples has a similar set of ordinances as we do, and they do it with four full time personnel. We have one full time person and 11 part time personnel, and we are nowhere as efficient as Naples is. I would suggest that we look at making a change to full time personnel. Our philosophy has been not to go out and look for violations. I would suggest that when a violation is brought to our attention we investigate and mitigate it. There should be a balance and an intelligent approach to compliance

Question #3: The City of Marco Island recently went through a substantial review of the Strategic Plan for the community moving forward. One of those issues which saw a considerable amount of focus dealt with “density” on the island. As a candidate will you commit to not increasing present density on the island as detailed in the City’s Strategic Plan as well as the Comprehensive Plan as submitted to Tallahassee earlier this year?

Brechnitz: I will not vote to increasing density on the island.

Christine Dowell

Christine Dowell and her husband Michael would establish residency just over three years ago on Marco Island having grown up in Palos Heights, Illinois. She is not new to Florida, as she chose Barry University in Broward County to obtain her Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing. She was familiar with the area as her grandparents had moved to that region to pursue business opportunities prior to her entering nursing school.

After finishing nursing school she would return to Illinois to pursue her love of nursing. In 2005 she deployed to the Mississippi coastal area to assist in coordinating care for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Pearlington, Mississippi on the Louisiana State Line.

She would stay actively involved in a number of health care endeavors, including Co-Founding F.A.I.M (Families of Amputees in Motion) which is a coalition group that dedicates itself to assisting and enhancing the quality of life for amputees and their families. She also served as Chairperson for the University of Illinois Extension in Bureau, Illinois providing services to businesses and communities in the solving of problems. 

She would also work as a consultant in National Wound/Ostomy Certification as part of an outreach program for the Cleveland Clinic based in Ohio.

Dowell first became interested in politics when she assisted in founding the Bureau/LaSalle Tea Party Branch back in Illinois, having found the conservative values of that organization more in line with her own beliefs.

Within a year after arriving on Marco Island she became aware of an undercurrent of disillusionment by a segment of those living here with what she saw as an erosion of the quality of life due to a surge in issues surrounding an unprecedented rise in the number of STR’s (Short Term Rentals). Issues such as traffic, overcrowding of the residences being rented, noise and trash were some of the major issues she felt were either being ignored or not effectively being managed,

That dissatisfaction was the genesis which created the organization of Citizens for a Better Marco which she chairs today and assisted with the successful citizen initiative which provided a 58% vote margin for the creation of a Rental Registration Ordinance last August. 

Question #1:  We just celebrated our 25-year anniversary since incorporation. To create a more equitable election process would you be in favor of a Charter change that would create three districts which would elect two individuals from each district who must live within that district. In addition one individual would be elected At Large and serve as Chairperson of Council?

Dowell:  I totally agree with that and was surprised at how we do it today when I arrived here!

Question #2: The issue of the management and effectiveness of Code Enforcement has been a hot topic over a number of years and different councils. Should it be maintained and if so, how would you suggest it be improved? 

Dowell:  First of all I don’t think it belongs under the Police Department. It should be a separate department. We need to increase transparency to understand what level of training they have. Training is essential; there are four levels of training, and I am not sure whether anyone has been certified to the top level.

Question #3: The City of Marco Island recently went through a substantial review of the Strategic Plan for the community moving forward. One of those issues which saw a considerable amount of focus dealt with “density” on the island. As a candidate will you commit to not increasing present density on the island as detailed in the City’s Strategic Plan as well as the Comprehensive Plan as submitted to Tallahassee earlier this year?

Dowell: Thank you for the question. I will commit to not increasing present density on Marco Island. Even with the Comprehensive Plan, the density for affordable housing was removed. There are very little density credits left on this island. Also, density credits cannot be transferred to other properties. Marco Island has reached near buildout. There are MICA deed restrictions on properties that also dictate land uses and density. The deed restrictions for all C-4 located in the Town Center overlay do not allow for any residential uses, including hotel/motel, condo, apartments or houses. Any deviations from the deed restrictions have to be approved by MICA. Any property owner on Marco Island can sue for enforcements of the deed restrictions in a court of law. 

Greg Folley

Gregory Folley has a long list of accomplishments in his background, from an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy which he attended from 1977 to 79 before being injured and receiving an honorable medical discharge. He would go on to receive his BS degree from Notre Dame University in 1981 in economics and then receive his law degree from Notre Dame in ‘84. He sharpened his legal skills in the field of Labor and Employment Relations at several firms. In 1994-95, he oversaw the successful resolution to the largest interest arbitration in U.S. airline history. Folley then entered a 22-year career with Caterpillar, Inc., rising through the executive ranks to the position of President, all while holding a dual position as Vice President for Industry Components and Distribution Division. Retiring in 2017, Folley now lives on Marco Island. 

Folley was first appointed to fill the position of former City Councilor Sam Young who abruptly resigned in April of 2020 after only serving 18 months of his four-year term. He would be chosen from a field of two other candidates to fill the open position until the November election, wherein he would choose to stand for election for the remaining two years of Councilor Young’s term and ran unopposed.

He has been actively involved during his time on the council and has won the respect of his colleagues regarding his work ethic and knowledge. Utilizing his considerable experience at Caterpillar, including that of Lead Negotiator, Folley would be appointed by his fellow councilors to review the upcoming Fire Union Contract Negotiations on behalf of the council. That contract, which was approved by the Union members, would help to save the taxpayers of the island in the long term and would continue to provide Marco Island first responders with a benefit program which is competitive with surrounding municipalities and districts.

Greg is married to his wife Margo and his nine children, two stepchildren and 11 grandchildren.

Question #1:  We just celebrated our 25-year anniversary since incorporation. To create a more equitable election process would you be in favor of a Charter change that would create three districts which would elect two individuals from each district who must live within that district. In addition one individual would be elected At Large and serve as Chairperson of Council?

Folley: I think that would be better than the existing situation. I like the idea of the district representations, it would be more representative, and we should look at it. 

Question #2: The issue of the management and effectiveness of Code Enforcement has been a hot topic over a number of years and different councils. Should it be maintained and if so, how would you suggest it be improved? 

Folley: I think there will be some things that are happening that may be helpful in that regard. We’ve improved the training of the personnel and I’d want to see how that flushes out as we work closer with the department to tweak it.

Question #3: The City of Marco Island recently went through a substantial review of the Strategic Plan for the community moving forward. One of those issues which saw a considerable amount of focus dealt with “density” on the island. As a candidate will you commit to not increasing present density on the island as detailed in the City’s Strategic Plan as well as the Comprehensive Plan as submitted to Tallahassee earlier this year?

Folley: Yes. I was successful in retiring more than 300 bonus density units in the Comprehensive Planning process last year. I will not vote to increase density on the Island.

Darrin Palumbo

Candidate Darrin Palumbo was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey where he married his wife, Suzanne. He graduated from South Plainfield High School in South Plainfield, New Jersey. He would attend courses at Middlesex County College and Rutgers University. He would also later attend the New Jersey Realty Institute and the Bert Rogers Real Estate School. He is a graduate of the Florida Market Wise Stock Trading School and holds a special designation in the real estate, financing and securities fields.

It was in New Jersey where Palumbo met his wife Suzanne, and they would subsequently choose to move to Marco Island. Both he and his wife already had family located here on Marco Island and would find it to be the right choice for raising a family. He had a sister here on the island as well as a brother in-law who was a chef at DaVinci’s Restaurant, so it made Marco a natural fit for the newly married couple.

Since moving here the Palumbo’s added two children to their family and has been actively engaged in coaching youth sports, both within the Optimist Club Programs, the Charter Middle School and soccer at the Marco Island Academy. As part of that he has been actively engaged in fundraising for those sports his children and others were playing in.

He would serve two years on the Waterways Advisory Committee, having been appointed to that committee by then City Councilman John Arceri back in 2005-2006, but shows no service on any other city or county advisory committees. Over time he has been employed within the food service industry as well as holding his real estate license since 2001. He recently became a part-owner of Sweet Annie’s Ice Cream Parlor located on Bald Eagle Drive.

Question #1: We just celebrated our 25-year anniversary since incorporation. To create a more equitable election process would you be in favor of a Charter change that would create three districts which would elect two individuals from each district who must live within that district. In addition one individual would be elected At Large and serve as Chairperson of Council?

Palumbo: I would be in favor of looking at all of the options available should council decide it had merit.

Question #2: The issue of the management and effectiveness of Code Enforcement has been a hot topic over a number of years and different councils. Should it be maintained and if so, how would you suggest it be improved?

Palumbo: We absolutely need to look at a way to better enforce our codes, as well as what we want to enforce and at what level. Not just about codes but what we should do about warnings and what we are going to enforce, what is egregious. How we are going to interact with citizens. I think our police chief is doing a good job addressing this.

Question #3: The City of Marco Island recently went through a substantial review of the Strategic Plan for the community moving forward. One of those issues which saw a considerable amount of focus dealt with “density” on the island. As a candidate will you commit to not increasing present density on the island as detailed in the City’s Strategic Plan as well as the Comprehensive Plan as submitted to Tallahassee earlier this year?

Palumbo: I understand our challenge with density and will certainly do everything in my power to not increase it. With that said, I have maintained that if it ever becomes necessary within our community to further look at density, I believe no changes should be considered until there is ample community, city, and council input that would require workshops, public awareness, and the right for the people to be heard. At that point, any density increase should only be sought as a last resort and for the betterment of the entire community. 

Nanette Rivera

Nanette Rivera was born in New York while her father was attending graduate school and within six months her father had finished his degree work and they would move south to Panama until the age of thirteen. When I inquired of Nanette whether she acquired her love of engineering, a trade which she herself had adopted, she beamed and credited that to her father. She would actually become fluent in Spanish before being fluent in English because of her immersion into those cultures.

Since retiring and having a little extra free time on her hands Nanette has become involved with a number of boards and committee. During the last year she was appointed to the Board of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Their mission consists of protecting and supporting the rich marine estuaries which abut Marco Island that consists of 729,000 acres. She was also recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Conservancy of Southwest Florida which is designated to conserve and protect the natural resources of the land, wildlife and water in our delicate ecosystem that we cohabit with here in Southwest Florida. She also serves of the Marco Island Planning Board.

When asked why she wanted to come forward at this time her answer was short and to the point. “I think we have a wonderful place which we live in. My interest lies totally in preserving that and improving it where we can,” said Rivera.

One area which Rivera would concentrate on lies in improving the opportunity for the population to have the opportunity to better “age in place.”  In her mind that means to improve services such as medical care for our residents. “You don’t need more bricks and mortar, it involves bringing some of those services directly to the consumer at their home,” said Rivera. Another advantage lies in reducing the stress on a spouse when you remove the need to travel to see a loved one in a facility if the necessary recovery services can be done at home.

When asked about the controversy regarding Old Marco and her vote in favor of the proposed project a few weeks ago she would simply say. “It’s balls and strikes,” said Rivera referring to meeting the criteria as set out by the rules.

Question #1:  We just celebrated our 25-year anniversary since incorporation. To create a more equitable election process would you be in favor of a Charter change that would create three districts which would elect two individuals from each district who must live within that district. In addition one individual would be elected At Large and serve as Chairperson of Council?

Rivera: I am 150% in favor of this. I’ve spoken to a number of people on the island who would favor a change.

Question #2:  The Issue of the management of Code Enforcement has been a hot topic over the last several years and different councils. Should it be maintained and if so, how would you suggest it be revised?

Rivera:  Code Enforcement needs a complete redesign. Our residents deserve a top-rated department just like our Police and Fire/Rescue Departments. Do you have the proper staff? I did meet with Chief Frazzano, and she has been restaffing it. I still believe we need to go a step further and this will require processes, systems and metrics. Staff may be capable but if you don’t build the support system around them, we will be wasting valuable resources.

Question #3: The City of Marco Island recently went through a fairly substantial review of its Strategic Plan for the community moving forward. One of those issues which saw a considerable amount dealt with "density" on the island. As a candidate will you commit to not increasing present density on the island, as detailed in both the City's Strategic Plan as well as the Comprehensive Plan as submitted to Tallahassee earlier this year?

Rivera: I am 100% committed to not increasing density beyond what is currently allocated and/or planned per the current Comprehensive Plan table:1 “Density Limitations by Residential Future Land Use Category” and accompanying zoning FLUM (future land use map). Redevelopment projects do not get to add or change density allocations from those specified by the current Comprehensive Plan. Bonus density allocations were to be eliminated by the current Comprehensive Plan; and as part of the Planning Board I voted to eliminate bonus density (I still support that position).