Council Candidates in District 3 | Question of the Week Three | July 19
Each week through the Primary, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of words, about 100, for their response.
This week’s question: How will you weigh projects with a potential citywide benefit but also a perceived neighborhood impact?
District 3 candidates’ answers:
Chad Bruening
Chad Bruening
All Cape Coral projects will carry the same weight with me. Anyone in a council seat should be listening to the people for their likes and concerns for any proposed project, to understand both sides — we have the proposed Jaycee Park expansion for example. All major projects create traffic issues in many locations of the Cape but, we must realize expansion of our commercial tax base to gain tax revenue while maintaining constant communication with our citizens. We are a community and I feel we should address our problems and growth as a community.
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Derrick Donnell
Derrick Donnell
Most residents have welcomed the development of projects within commercial corridors. Pine Island Road is an example. However, when projects are proposed near residential areas, most of our residents are much more discerning. Jaycee Park is an example. The council must be intentional in communicating projects to the residents as early as possible. The residents should have the opportunity to be involved in the process as early as possible. After hearing from both the residents and city staff, I will weigh the project by compiling a “plus-minus-delta” tool so I can clearly show and articulate all aspects of the project.
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Daniel J. Ludlow
Daniel J. Ludlow
Public input and common sense. That’s what has been missing from the current council. I want to hear from everyone about all things Cape Coral.
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Deborah Lee McCormick
Deborah Lee McCormick
The Breeze question of the week is a classic view of what’s happening to Jaycee Park.
Whole citywide benefit should always recognize what currently exists. This requires outreach to the neighborhood and its association, if present. The Boathouse Restaurant and city gas station is a prime example. It went from a small hotdog stand to a destination restaurant for our boating community. The huge advantage for non-boaters is the tremendous increase in tax dollars and city gas sales at that location.