Collier Commission District 2 election: Four Republicans running for open seat; winner will face lone Democrat
Five candidates are running to replace Collier County Commissioner Andy Solis in District 2.
The district in North Naples spans from Pine Ridge Road to Bonita Beach Road at the Collier-Lee county line.
Solis was first elected for a partial term to fill the vacancy created when Georgia Hiller resigned to run for county clerk in 2016. Solis was then elected to a full four-year term in 2018.
Solis announced in January he was not running for reelection, citing his marriage the month before and that he wants to focus more on his company, Reinfried & Associates, which manages two trade associations in the conveyor manufacturing industry.
Previous coverage: Collier County Commissioner Andy Solis will not run for reelection in 2022
Collier Commission election: District 2 candidates speak at forum
Nine candidates filed to run for the seat, but that dropped to five who qualified: four Republicans and one Democrat.
The Republicans running in the Aug. 23 primary are Reg Buxton, Chris Hall, Gerald Lefebvre and Nancy Lewis. That winner will then face Democratic candidate Bebe Kanter in November.
The new commissioner will represent the rapidly growing population in Collier facing challenges such as managing development, preserving natural resources and maintaining affordable housing.
The Naples Daily News sent five questions to all candidates; each responded by email.
Reg Buxton
Buxton, 76, a former Naples City Council member who has lived in Naples since the 1990s, is a civic philanthropist and media owner who has conducted marketing and consultant work for the private sector and federal agencies.
His priorities are water quality, road infrastructure, the environment and affordable housing.
Candidate profile: Meet the 2020 candidates for Naples City Council: Reg Buxton
More: Driver says Naples Councilman Buxton and wife left after scraping his car at intersection
Similar to Solis, Buxton is also concerned with mental health, specifically bed availability at behavioral healthcare centers like the David Lawrence Centers, which currently has 60 beds.
Buxton, who served on the David Lawrence Foundation Board for two terms, says the acceptable standard for mental health beds is 30 beds for every 100,000 people.
"Naples' population is currently 400,000, which means until those beds are built we have a deficit, and by the time they are built our population will be even larger," he wrote in his answers to the Naples Daily News. "Meeting the need has to be a priority for our community and it will take public/ private/ philanthropic contributions. County Commissioners should not be in the mental health business, but they do have a part to play."
He believes private investment is necessary to solve the affordable housing crisis. "Government should not however be in the business of housing management. It is in the communities' best interest that we solve this matter together, working with private investors is another option to evaluate," he said.
He said the lack of workforce housing affects all of the county, not just the businesses seeking to attract and retain employees.
"The School District, Fire Departments and Hospitals already own land around the County and should consider utilizing a portion of it to build housing/apartments for their employees," Buxton said. "Reasonable pricing could be viewed as one of the benefits of employment with those businesses. County Government could assist with partial funding on these projects but it would be a limited one-time investment."
During a candidate forum in May, when asked who would be eligible for affordable housing and where it would be built, Buxton said it "could be anywhere ... the greatest need for low-income housing would be in the eastern part of the county and in Immokalee." He said anyone part of the workforce should be eligible.
At the same forum, Lefebvre brought up how Buxton has taken campaign donations from developers. "There is one candidate, Reg Buxton, who has received roughly $11,000 in his campaign donations from Stock Development. I see that to be the issue. I don't know if the residents here see that also," Lefebvre said in response to a question at the forum asking if he would accept money from developers.
"I have taken some money from developers, and I may take more money from developers. I will take money if people wish to give it to me, and if it's legal money. Someone has to be able to work with developers. Somebody has to work with them," Buxton said at the forum.
"What if we don't work with them? Then what happens in the county is there's no organization, there are no set plans," he continued.
As of July 15, Buxton had raised $63,800 in monetary contributions and had spent $23,369.
His first campaign contribution filing, in March, showed that $23,000 of his $36,300 in contributions came from entities controlled by two developers, Brian Stock and David Torres.
Stock owns Stock Development, and Torres is the CEO of Star Development.
The rest of Buxton's current campaign reports show he has taken monetary contributions from 33 businesses and 47 individuals. A total of 58 contributions were for the maximum amount of $1,000.
According to Buxton's campaign website, he has been endorsed by North Collier Professional Firefighters & Paramedics, Collier County Medical Society Political Action Committee (PAC), former Collier County Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Von Rinteln, and Naples local Dave Trecker.
Chris Hall
Chris Hall, 60, moved to Collier County from Texas seven years ago and has lived here "long enough to call it home, love it, and want to keep it amazing."
When asked what his professional background was and how his background prepared him to be a Commissioner, Hall said, "Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur. It gives me 28 years of business experience. Not 1 year experience, repeated 28X. It takes creativity, negotiation skills, great stewardship of money and doing what’s right to be successful."
His website says he sold all of his businesses in 2020.
He said he's running on "govt overreach, Traffic and uncontrolled growth, and Clean water. Housing is a close 4th."
Hall did not expand on these issues in his response. His website does not go into detail on his platform.
However, in his video titled "Chris’ vision for Collier County," he said he decided to run after Solis voted in 2020 for a county mask mandate for local businesses.
"I told my current commissioner if you vote for this mask mandate and you shut our businesses down, and you pursue this, I'm going to run against you," Hall said. "So he did, and I did."
On his website, he expands on this issue.
"I’m a full time, bonafide, voting Florida resident, but I’m also a Texan," Hall said. "So instead of “Remember the Alamo” my battle cry is ”Remember the mandate”!"
Hall believes in smaller government and describes himself as "a constitutional, Christian, Conservative that has the backbone, character, grit and common sense to manage the tax payers money, treat everyone like I would want to be treated, and make the hard decisions that need to be made in leadership," Hall wrote in his email to the Naples Daily News.
"I will do what is right because it’s right, listen and do what the majority of people want, protect and secure every right that our Creator gave us in the Constitution," he added.
During a candidate forum in May, Hall said he wants to move the school board under county management, saying it has been "infiltrated by weak leaders" who push a liberal agenda and that the district should not be subject to gay leaders.
Controversial comments: Collier Commission candidate Chris Hall's comments on schools, sexuality draw critics
Superintendent Kamela Patton, who is in her 11th year as superintendent, is not gay, said Chad Oliver, public information officer for Collier County Public Schools. Oliver added, "Mr. Hall’s disparaging comments are personally, educationally, and legally inaccurate."
According to a campaign email sent out by Hall, he has been endorsed by Alfie Oakes.
Oakes has also endorsed District 4 Commission candidate Dan Kowal. Oakes owns Oakes Farm and was elected a Collier County Republican state committeeman in 2020.
Oakes is known for his strong political views, often said at public forums and through social media.
In 2020, Oakes described the COVID-19 pandemic as a "hoax" and publicly denounced the county's decision to implement a mask mandate in businesses. He also tried to fight the move in court by suing the county. The suit was later dismissed.
Oakes also participated in the "Save America March" in Washington, D.C., on the day of the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol and funded two busloads of local supporters to attend the pro-Trump rally.
Oakes denied any involvement in the riot and blamed left-wing activists for the attack on the Capitol. He told the Naples Daily News after he returned from the rally that protesters were "supporting liberty and freedom," describing his trip as "amazing."
Oakes and the Collier County Republican Committee have also endorsed a slate of school board candidates: Tim Moshier, Kelly Lichter and Jerry Rutherford.
Although the CCRC has not endorsed any commission candidates, Hall and Kowal appear on campaign material along with these three school board candidates, whom the committee has endorsed. The campaign advertisements say each candidate paid an equal share.
According to a campaign email sent out by Hall, he is endorsed by: Conservative Christians of SWFL, Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, Florida’s Conservative Voice, SWFL Christian Activist, Republican National Forum, Conservative Christian Coalition, FLCAction, Organization Christian Family Coalition and DC Draino.
Hall has raised $96,429 and spent $42,039 as of July 15.
Gerald Lefebvre
Lefebvre, 54, moved to Collier from Connecticut in 2001 and is a Realtor for John R. Woods Properties.
He studied criminal justice at the University of New Haven for two years, served as a police officer for one year in Meriden, Conn., from 1988-1989 then completed his studies at the University of Connecticut.
From 2002 to January 2022, he held a position on the Collier County Code Enforcement Board. He stepped down from the advisory board to run for commissioner, as a county ordinance requires him to do so.
He was board chairman and vice chairman for 11 years.
Lefebvre said he thinks he is the most qualified candidate with 20 years of experience in Collier County government.
"Since filing to run for District 2 County Commissioner, I have spoken to over 2,000 people and the vast majority feel that uncontrolled rapid Growth is the number one issue in the County," he said.
His priorities also include water quality and safety.
"The state mandated in the mid to late 1990s how the County is to grow as the state felt that the County was not following the Growth Management Plan. They instituted policies like the (Transferable Development Rights) program in the Rural Lands to control growth," he said. "From the late 1990s to now, I do not feel the County has done a good job on Growing Responsibly."
He added, "Developments were approved without much thought or the impact that they would have on roads, natural resources, the strain the additional developments would put on life and safety personal (sic) along with our schools."
For water quality, he said that if elected he would look to expand the reclaimed water program so that less potable water is used for irrigation and non-potable uses. "I will also work with other counties in Southwest Florida, the state and federal groups to come up with solutions to red tide and algae blooms in the area," he told the Naples Daily News.
He said that as a former police officer, he is a proponent of supporting first responders. He said he would vote to fund the sheriff’s and Emergency Medical Services departments so that they can hire and retain highly trained individuals and provide the most up-to-date training, technology and equipment.
"It is imperative that the residents of Collier County support our first responders," he said.
Lefebvre has been endorsed by Naples Better Government.
He has raised the least amount of campaign contributions of the Republican candidates, with $9,835 as of July 15. He has spent $8,357.
Sixteen of his donors are individuals, and six are from businesses. Three contributions were for the maximum amount of $1,000.
Lefebvre also loaned the campaign $3,000.
Nancy Lewis
Lewis, 66, moved to Naples in 1991 after decades of working in sales, which included being the vice president of sales for Computer Discount of America. She founded the reseller company Compu-Byte Inc. and sold the business in 1993 before becoming a real estate agent.
"That business experience provided me with a well-rounded background in administration and financial management," Lewis said.
Lewis has also held volunteer leadership roles with Save Vanderbilt Beach, which was formed to oppose the development of One Naples, and the Pelican Bay Property Owners Association.
Unlike her opponents, she regularly attends commission meetings and often speaks during public comments.
She believes the top issues in Collier County include overdevelopment and traffic, commissioners ignoring the people in favor of developers and government overspending.
Lewis cited One Naples as an example of the county commission ignoring the voices of the people.
One Naples is a resort-style community that will have 128 residences, with three five-story mid-rises over one level of parking alongside two 10-story high-rises over two floors of parking.
The development’s opponents were mostly North Naples residents who formed Save Vanderbilt Beach.
Group founder Buzz Victor has told the Naples Daily News they organized protests, conducted surveys with over 2,500 responses from residents who overwhelmingly stated they wanted the development denied as proposed, and assembled a 35-foot-tall wall to mimic the development’s parking structure.
“We sent over 10,000 emails of opposition, attended meetings, provided expert testimony from hired professionals outlining why the mega-development ‘One Naples’ should NOT be approved,” Lewis wrote in her answers to the Naples Daily News.
The commissioners in March 2021 voted 4-1 to approve the project. Commissioner Penny Taylor cast the sole opposition vote, saying the favorable votes by the rest of the commission set a bad precedent because they had heard an overwhelming amount of opposition from residents.
Moving forward: Once-controversial One Naples quietly comes together, with construction to start late next year
More on One Naples: Collier County officials approve One Naples after surprise revisions
Lewis said she agrees with Taylor. “Commissioners totally ignored the concerns of residents and approved One Naples,” she said.
Lewis said she would listen to residents' concerns about a proposal to increase building heights and density at Kalea Bay, a luxury high-rise project on Vanderbilt Drive. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment for that project will be presented to the commission soon, and she plans to vote against it.
“Residents from the surrounding neighborhood have expressed their valid concerns. After listening to resident concerns and reviewing the proposed plans, as a Commissioner, I would not support the Kalea Bay proposed PUD amendment,” she said.
Lewis also criticized developer exemptions. “The routine approval by County Commissioners of ‘Developer Exemptions’ to our growth management plan and development laws has resulted in traffic gridlock, increasing debt, greater densities than allowed, and infrastructure improvements paid by taxpayers," Lewis told the Naples Daily News in an email.
Government overspending is another top issue for Lewis. She said the county needs to focus on repairs to existing county infrastructure.
“County Commissioners should use these funds to address existing facilities that will require ongoing maintenance and capital improvements rather than searching for new projects without consideration for the carrying costs of maintenance and repair,” Lewis said.
'It's so immense': Protesters build wall to protest One Naples project as key vote approaches
Guest opinion: One Naples has 'morphed from truly outrageous to simply atrocious'
She has promised not to take money from developers and special interest groups.
Lewis has raised $83,931 in monetary contributions and spent $52,786 as of July 15. All of her contributions come from individuals.
Lewis has been endorsed by former President of the Women’s Republican Club Naples Donna Wagner, President of Save Vanderbilt Beach Buzz Victor and former Naples City Councilman Linda S. Penniman, according to her website.
Bebe Kanter
The winner of August's Republican primary will face Democratic candidate Bebe Kanter in November.
She does not have a campaign website.
Kanter has been a Naples resident since 2017. She did not provide a response to questions from the Naples Daily News.
Her candidate statement submitted to the Collier Collier County Supervisor of Elections says she and her husband lived in Chicago from 1977 until 2016.
Since 1970, she says she has "studied and worked various aspects of city and urban planning as an intern to being a loan officer for Multi-Family Housing: Department of Housing and Urban Development in Chicago and Norwest Bank (later merged with Wells Fargo)."
According to her candidate statement, she has founded three businesses: Quiet Collier, Inc., Let’s Speak English/SpeakIQ and Renaissance Properties.
As founder of Quiet Collier, Kanter has advocated for zoning and code reform as a way to develop financially sound high-density housing west of Collier County Boulevard.
She wants to improve the livability of District 2 by imposing a moratorium on building new parking lots, reducing the cost of solid waste management by reducing the volume of solid waste through rigorous sorting and recycling, and addressing environmental issues.
"I will propose making infrastructure investments to reduce the number of harmful algal blooms fueled by sewage nutrients and the number of beach closures due to high fecal pathogen counts while meeting our growing water demands through optimized treatment and recycling," Kanter wrote in her campaign statement.
She has raised no money for her campaign other than the $20,000 donations she loaned her campaign. She has spent $5,374.38 as of July 15.
She has no official endorsements.
Reporter Luis Zambrano contributed to this article.
Connect with Government Watchdog Report Rachel Heimann Mercader: @racheyy_marie (Twitter), rachel.heimann@naplesnews.com, or cell: 239-359-7948
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Meet the candidates running for Collier Commission District 2
