District 2 race for Collier County Commission features two entrepreneurial-minded candidates

A Democrat and a Republican are running to replace Collier County Commissioner Andy Solis in District 2.

After winning in his GOP primary, Chris Hall faces Democratic candidate Bebe Kanter in the Nov. 8 election.

Hall won his earlier race with 50.2% of the vote, beating out three other Republican candidates — after several others withdrew from the crowded race.

Solis decided not to run for reelection.

Both Hall and Kanter are Southwest Florida transplants with entrepreneurial backgrounds, but their views are different in more ways than one.

District 2 in North Naples spans from Pine Ridge Road to Bonita Beach Road at the Collier-Lee county line.

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As Election Day draws near, Hall and Kanter agreed to answer five questions, from why they're running to what they hope to accomplish, especially as the county looks to rebuild and recover from Hurricane Ian — which hit the district they're running in particularly hard.

Here's what they had to say via e-mail:

Chris Hall

When it comes to recovery from Ian, Chris Hall, 60, pledges to continue "being hands-on."

Since the storm, he said, he's helped secure warehouse space and bring in needed resources for those hit hard, including tents, cots, bedding, hygiene kits, diapers, family care packs and cleaning supplies.

If elected, he said he'd prioritize temporary housing for residents displaced by Ian.

"We have a source ready to go with these self-contained structures," he said.

He wants to create "communities with these structures" for residents who don't have the room to put them on their own property while they work on repairs.

"These places would be for people who suffered damage from the storm only and would be for a specific term as not to be abused by those who were not affected by the storm," he said.

To help expedite recovery, he'd push to ease permitting and streamline the code inspection system, he said.

As for the county's affordable housing crisis, only made worse by Ian, he said the topic is "a big one for me."

He said he doesn't think government should try to limit rent, get between landlords and residents, or “mandate” anything.

"I do believe in private sector housing solutions where the county government can give specific property to be built on strictly for 'under the market' (affordable) homes to be bought by people in the workforce," he said.

By that, he means people in the service industry and in other essential roles, such as  police officers, nurses, firefighters and teachers.

Aside from storm recovery and workforce housing, Hall's priorities are to:

• Create a smaller government by streamlining spending while preserving the quality of life and services necessary for "keeping Collier County great."

• Maintain smart, common sense sustainable growth.

"We have a growth management plan. Let's stick to it, as much as we can," Hall said.

When asked why he's the best choice for the job, he said it's because he's "not a politician."

"I'm a problem solver," he said. "I'm super-conservative. I’ll manage your tax money like it’s yours because it is."

Overall, he said he'd take a "common sense" approach to the job, which he sees as lacking in society and government.

"I understand the role of government. It is to protect and secure your rights. I will do what is right because it’s right. I won’t be bought and I won’t be bullied. That’s my commitment to you," Hall said.

Asked what else readers and voters might want to know about him, he responded: "Never in a million years did I ever plan on entering into politics. I came to Naples eight years ago to live happily ever after."

What changed his mind? When COVID hit, he said he didn't like the way government reacted, including the county's decision to adopt a mask mandate in public places.

"I believe everyone should be able to decide what is best for them and them only," Hall said. "For this reason, I entered the race. My message and purpose has been clear and well-received."

To date, county records show his campaign has raised more than $145,250 in monetary contributions — the most of any candidate, including those he defeated in the primary.

In his professional life, Hall has been an entrepreneur and real estate investor. He sold his businesses in 2020. Hall relocated here from Texas with his wife in 2015.

Bebe Kanter

In the aftermath of Ian, Bebe Kanter, 69, said she plans to follow the advice of FEMA and the county's emergency management leadership in doing what's necessary to recover and rebuild — and to better prepare for the next big storm.

Unlike Hall, she doesn't support tax cuts — or trims to the budget. Why?

"Lower expenditures feel good in the short run," she said. "But over a longer period of time, results in more money being wasted than being saved."

Ian showed the importance of having reserves, Kanter said.

"Andy Solis was right," she said. "And I was brave enough to say so."

When it comes to the county's affordable housing crisis, she said rigid, obsolete zoning has created the "perception" that developable land is scarce "when this is actually not the case."

If the county allowed more high-density development near and around Interstate 75, she said there would be no need for the push to build new villages and towns farther east on environmentally sensitive lands "for at least another decade."

"In a free land market, two-income municipal workers can afford to live within 45 minutes of their jobs," Kanter said. "They can't here, because Collier wants to create and articulate a buildable site shortage."

Her other priorities are to:

• Increase civic participation by holding late afternoon advisory committee meetings and paying stipends to members.

• Reduce the volume of solid waste by getting more customers to sort and recycle what they throw away, including landscaping, before waste management gets involved.

• Lessen heat, air, water and noise pollution by fostering a transition to quieter motors, slower speeds on minor roads, and creating more shade with landscaping and fences.

When asked why she's the best choice for the job, she said it's because she's "there with the community."

"I rarely take a sick day, regardless of being exhausted. I am there at county, cultural, civic events, talking to constituents," she said. "Everybody knows me and feels comfortable talking to me by phone, in person, and on social media."

She added that she pays close attention to "all Collier County stakeholders, not just my financial backers."

"I have the largest social media following of any local political leader in Collier County because residents from all persuasions trust me," Kanter said.

Asked what else readers and voters might want to know about her, she responded: "My husband and I financed this campaign ourselves so that I could be independent of powerful sponsors."

She said she's focused on what Collier residents need, not on the priorities of special interest groups.

"Together, Craig and I have shown that two old people can change the narrative and trajectory of local government with courtesy and the truth," Kanter said.

To date, county records show her campaign has raised $40,000 in monetary contributions.

Kanter's professional experience includes everything from jobs in city and urban planning to serving as a loan officer for multifamily housing. She founded and ran three businesses.

She and her husband moved to Naples in 2015, relocating from Chicago.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Election 2022: Kanter, Hall run for District 2 Collier commission seat