2022 Election candidates profiles for Bonita Springs City Council districts 1, 3 and 5
Note to readers: The News-Press and Naples Daily News are providing Q&A's with candidates who are running for the key races being contested in Southwest Florida for the 2022 election.
Jamie Bogacz
RUNNING FOR: Bonita Springs City Council District 1
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: Practice manager for Bonita Vision Center for 15 years
RESIDENCE: Bonita Springs native
EDUCATION: High school diploma and certifications in orthodontics and optometry
FAMILY: Married to Tim for 24 years. He is a firefighter for Bonita Springs Fire Department, and we have raised two boys Luke, 22, Max, 20
PREVIOUS OFFICE(S) HELD: None
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Very big supporter of youth and high school sports. Looking forward to more community involvement in my future endeavors.
Q: What inspired you to run for office?
A: My passion for my city is why I hope to be on the city council. I intend to protect it as it grows, to make certain that it maintains that hometown feel that I love.
Q: What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A. I was born and raised here in Bonita Springs. Having worked in the customer service industry for 15+ years, I know what it takes to care for the people in the community.
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Q: What are your top two or three priorities for this position?
A: Helping in whatever way possible with hurricane relief. I’m very passionate about the redevelopment of the downtown district. The city has made huge strides, and to be part of continuing this project would be an honor.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Barron Collier Companies project slated for Old 41 Road?
A: I support Barron Collier coming into the downtown area. I feel bringing in a very reputable builder to begin the revitalizing of the downtown district will encourage entrepreneurs to invest into the area. Currently it is undesirable for investors. With new investors it would make it possible for new job opportunities to become available. Having a downtown area that will be pedestrian friendly with so many things to offer people like public access to the river, shops, restaurants, green space, parks, concerts will make Bonita Springs a destination.
Eric Olson
Eric Olson could not be reached for comment
Laura Carr
RUNNING FOR: Bonita Springs City Council, District 3
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: City Council member for Bonita Springs, District 3
RESIDENCE: Spanish Wells
EDUCATION: Bachelor of science in sociology and psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder; PhD ABD in sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill
FAMILY: Married, one son, two step-sons, one step-daughter and eight grandchildren
PREVIOUS OFFICE(S) HELD: This will be the second time I am running for office. Running for re-election.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Rotarian, assist at numerous special events at Riverside Park, assist at the Immokalee annual barbecue, Friends for Life of Lovers Key, Member of the Bonita Springs Lions Club.
Q: What inspired you to run for office?
A: My son encouraged me to run for office because I continually talk about how the city needs to step up by supporting families and businesses to keep Bonita a city with a small town charm with a bright future. I’m running for re-election to believe that all levels of government should be working for the people, be transparent, and always be receptive to its citizens and their ideas, especially with your tax dollars. I want to keep fighting for Bonita to be business-friendly, environmentally sound, and a safe, wonderful place to raise a family.
Q: What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A. Experience and results. I was elected for the first time on council in 2018 and since that time, we secured $2.5 million for Hickory Island Beach Park renourishment, $17 million was awarded to the city for storm water management and infrastructure repairs, funding for Bonita Springs local sheriff services increased for the first time in 14 years and downtown Bonita development is happening in a smart growth way. Also, Bonita property taxes remain one of the lowest in the region.
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Q: What are your top two or three priorities for this position?
A. Hurricane Ian recovery and repair, storm water management, protecting beaches and the coast, protecting families and businesses, infrastructure and workforce development.
Ron George
RUNNING FOR: Bonita Springs City Council District 3
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
AGE: 70
OCCUPATION: Retired, over 40 years in the pharmaceutical industry
RESIDENCE: Bonita Springs
EDUCATION: B.S. in chemistry and math; Ph.D. in chemistry
FAMILY: Wife, Ann, retired teacher; son, Chris, hospital staffing nurse; daughter, Katelyn, head engineer on a U.S. Navy destroyer.
PREVIOUS OFFICE(S) HELD: None
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Board President Seascape Condos in Bonita Springs, City of Bonita Springs Technology Advisory Board, Bonita Beach Association
Q: What inspired you to run for office?
A: The main reason I'm running for office is because I feel like our current representative or current council person has not been doing a good job representing the people. And I feel I have a lot of energy and expertise that I can dedicate to the position. And I'm also very interested in listening to the people and helping the people with, you know, getting their interests taken care of.
Q: What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A: I believe that my background, coming from a technical background and a business background with business expertise in dealing with project and people management and also the ability to interact with government agencies is something the other three candidates don't have. That sets me apart. The other thing that sets me apart is I'm self financing my campaign because I didn't want to go get any kind of special considerations to any of the local businesses or political groups that have interests that they want to promote. In other words, business interests, I just want to totally avoid any of that.
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Q: What are your top two or three priorities for this position?
A: My priorities are people, public safety, and the environment. I hope to work on mitigating congestion, beach and environmental improvements, public safety (pedestrian, bikes, etc.), and the scrutiny of zoning variances.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Barron Collier Companies project along Old 41 Road?
A. The project got approved by the city council. I was sort of not sure that it was the best project for that piece of land. But I also understand the fact that the Bonita Springs downtown area is, as they say, an unproven market. I think their feeling was that because it was an unproven market that they needed to do something with that property.
Ruth Condit
RUNNING FOR: Bonita Springs City Council District 3
POLITICAL PARTY: Declined to answer
AGE: 77
OCCUPATION: Owner of Ruth Condit Interior
RESIDENCE: Bonita Springs
EDUCATION: B.A. in fine art
FAMILY: Widow, two adult sons
PREVIOUS OFFICE(S) HELD: None
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Member of Friends of Lovers Key, Historic Preservation Advisory Board for the city of Bonita Springs, member of the Wonder Gardens and Rotary Club
Q: What inspired you to run for office?
A. Bonita Beach Road is a bit on the shabby side. I decided to do something about it. One phone call led to another, which led to a couple of signs being taken down that had been there for years falling into the swales. I got very interested in the process. I started going to city council meetings. I like urban beautification. Well designed cities make them livable and promote healthy and pleasant living, which is very important.
Q: What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A: My design background would be a great qualification regarding urban beautification projects. I think everybody brings a certain aspect to the table and coming together makes it a very strong council.
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Q: What are your top two or three priorities for this position?
A: One would be collaborating with Lee County even if it's one median at a time, landscaping some of our medians, which are rather sad looking. Next I would look at some of our city codes and see if they could be streamlined a little bit.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the proposal for Barron Collier Companies to construct 120 private apartments along Old 41 Road?
A: As long as it’s within our comprehensive plan I’m for it. In order to have a vibrant thriving downtown you have to have people living in it. I definitely think you need to have people, not another windswept empty park. People are not going to drive down to see a park. I think it's a mixed use development, which means there'll be plenty of retail shops and plenty of access for the public to our beautiful river.
Steven Blumrosen
Steven Blumrosen could not be reached for comment
Jude Richvale
RUNNING FOR: Bonita Springs City Council District 5
POLITICAL PARTY: Declined to answer
AGE: 75
OCCUPATION: Computer software designer, developer and architect specializing in geographic information systems.
RESIDENCE: Bonita Springs
EDUCATION: B.A. in human communications and a minor in geology
FAMILY: Widower, two children
PREVIOUS OFFICE(S) HELD: None
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Chairman of the Bonita Springs City Communications Advisory Board 2007 to 2009
Q: What inspired you to run for office?
A: I called the two candidates running in my district and asked them if they would support my water plan. Neither of them said yes. So I decided to run to promote my water plan at least for the good of the city. The plan I outlined could reduce flooding, beach pollution, red tide and the average BSU bill by about $400 a year.
Q: What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A: I’ve actually thought about the issues. I’ve thought out plans to do things that are important for the city. My background in geology gives me the technical ability to get involved in issues like water and flooding.
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Q: What are your top two or three priorities for this position?
A: Of course it is to work on fixing the city's water problems. We were on national television for Hurricane Irma in 2017 for our flooding. We were on national television for Hurricane Ian in 2022. I spoke to one or two of the council members and they claimed they've done a lot and my contention is they've done very little about the water.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Barron Collier Companies project slated for Old 41 Road?
A. I, for one, do not want to see a repeat of Fifth Avenue in Naples nor another vanilla gentrification like downtown Fort Myers. We have a chance to make the Old 41 area truly unique, not just another set of shops we can find in a mall.
Nigel Patrick Fullick
RUNNING FOR: Bonita Springs city council district 5
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
AGE: 70
OCCUPATION: Four years in U.S Army, Southwest Regional Manager of Newrez
RESIDENCE: Bonita Springs
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in 1979 at FAU, public administration and law enforcement
FAMILY: Declined to answer
PREVIOUS OFFICE(S) HELD: None
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Served on the Board of Governors for Habitat for Humanity for 12 years, the Center for the Arts Board of Governors, chairman of the Public Places Board for the city of Bonita Springs
Q: What inspired you to run for office?
A: I'm not a politician. I’m very concerned that in some government entities now the candidates seem to be people either who need a job or have an agenda. And a lot of people in the Bonita Springs community have encouraged me over the years to run for office. I have the temperament for it. At this point in my life I think I can be of value to the community.
Q: What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A: I'm a very good listener. I don't have an agenda other than I want to see Bonita Springs achieve that potential of what our city founders wanted, which was to keep the small town charm, but to provide a better quality of living for our residents.
Q: What are your top two or three priorities for this position?
A: Protecting the Imperial River. I think it's our greatest resource. And this is kind of long term, a growing base of young citizens between the ages of 35 and 55 so that we have a leadership pool moving forward for both the city and the county. I think that's really critically important.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Barron Collier Companies project slated for Old 41 Road?
A: We don’t have a downtown. That’s always been the missing ingredient. I think it's very viable now that we've partnered with Barron Collier Companies. We were looking for and spelled this out, too. We were looking for a company that was financially viable and solid that could finance the project themselves if they had to and that had experience building this type of project. And preferably local. They fit every part of that bill.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 2022 Election candidates profiles for Bonita Springs city council
