Thank You, Coastal Breeze News Readers!

During local election season, Coastal Breeze News helps residents get to know the candidates seeking to represent them. One way we do that is by videotaping interviews with the candidates, giving readers the opportunity to see and hear directly from the people whose names will appear on the ballot. For many Marco Island residents, these interviews may be their first chance to get a look at the candidates and hear their views in their own words.

This year, in August and September, we invited readers to submit questions for the local City Council candidates. We wanted the interviews to reflect the issues and concerns that mattered to the community. Readers responded enthusiastically. Some sent in a single question, while others took the time to submit ten or more. Thank you to everyone who shared a question. Your thoughtful submissions helped make the interviews more relevant to the people who would be watching them.

We presented the questions to Jason Bailey, Dennis Bartolucci, Darrin Palumbo, Chris Ricci, Teri Sommerfeld, and Rick Woodworth. We sincerely thank the candidates for participating. Across all platforms, the interview videos received a total of 5,649 views.

Taking the time to learn about candidates and their positions is an important part of being an informed voter. It is a testament to the strength of our community that so many chose to engage with the process.

We would also like to extend appreciation to the readers who called our office to thank us for the time and effort that went into producing the videos.

At Coastal Breeze News, we believe a well-versed community is a stronger community. We are happy to be a key resource for you to stay informed and involved. Thank you for contributing your questions, watching the interviews, and taking an active role in local elections. We appreciate your trust and your continued readership.

There’s still time to view the interviews. Go to CoastalBreezeNews.com and look for Meet the Candidates 2026. For more information on voting, visit www.colliervotes.gov.