Marco Police Foundation Rates 2026 City Council Candidates

As Marco Island begins voting for who will fill its 2026 City Council seats, the Marco Police Foundation reviewed the candidates and rated them on local public safety and law enforcement issues. These ratings are based on questions the Foundation posed, past support for the Foundation, and, when relevant, a candidate’s incumbency record.
“With the recent City Council initiative to take a first step toward transferring local law enforcement to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the Marco Police Foundation believes it is important to educate voters on where this year’s candidates stand when it comes to supporting our local police,” said Foundation President Michael Hook.
Hook said the Foundation’s questions to candidates focused on local policing issues such as providing necessary resources, current facilities, competitive compensation, and city council oversight.
Based on its review, the Foundation rates City Council Chairman Darrin Palumbo and candidate Jason Bailey each as a “Best Friend of Law Enforcement.” Hook said both are Marco Police Foundation members and demonstrated their support for law enforcement in response to the Foundation’s questions.
Hook added that the Foundation also considered Chairman Palumbo’s successful effort to rescind the City Council’s initiative to consider transferring Marco Island’s law enforcement to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in its rating.
The Foundation rates council candidates Chris Ricci, Teri Sommerfeld, and Rick Woodworth each as a “Friend of Law Enforcement.” Hook said all three candidates answered the Foundation’s questions about law enforcement and clearly demonstrated their support for our local police department.
“The Marco Police Foundation believes that keeping all of us safe is one of the most important issues for residents of Marco Island,” said Hook. “We thank and congratulate these five candidates on their support for law enforcement and our local police department.”
The Foundation did not rate candidate Dennis Bartolucci because he failed to respond to all of its questions.
According to Hook, the Marco Police Foundation began as a local political action committee in 2000, created by local residents to support an advisory referendum to create a Marco Island Police Department. After the successful 2000 referendum and the Marco Island City Council’s 2001 creation of a police department, the Foundation shifted its mission to support our local police department and its officers.
Hook added that these ratings are strictly the opinions of the Marco Police Foundation and its Board of Directors. They are not affiliated in any way with the Marco Island Police Department or the City of Marco Island.