Stop stifling public input
To the editor:
At the Nov. 4, 2025, Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting, Board Chair Kevin Ruane started the meeting by saying “anyone addressing the Board will follow the rules of civility and address the whole Board, after all the Commissioners are here to listen to comments” (youtube.com meeting tape at 29:10 minutes). Yet, when citizen Marsha Ellis was recognized by the Chair to speak regarding agenda item # 7 to “Direct to Public Hearing Repealing and Replacing Animal Control Ordinance 14-22” she was told she could not speak, and her micro phone was cut off by Board Chairperson Ruane.
She was not rude, did not use profanity and was addressing the public documents attached to the agenda. Ms. Ellis stated she thought the ordinance should be sent back to committee because the changes were not comprehensive as stated in the attached documents and should not go to public hearing. According to County Attorney Wesch, the Board was only voting on setting the hearing date and time and Ms. Ellis’ comments were not appropriate. So, she amended her comments to specifically setting the hearing date, but she was physically removed from the Chambers by County Sheriff Office deputies at the direction of Chairman Ruane.
There have been numerous occasions where the County Attorney did not express his legal opinion when citizens were allowed to comment during a similar agenda item like on the April 1, 2025, Board of County Commissioners meeting. Agenda item # 43, “Direct to Public Hearing Gasparilla Island Parking Ordinance Amendments.” The Board and County Attorney had no problem allowing 28 speakers to comment on the proposed ordinances. (leecofl.portal.civicclerk.com Transcript of 04/01/2025 meeting, pages 21-36.)
In Lee County there is a growing trend by politicians to stifle citizen input. This has recently been seen with the common Councils in Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach, and Lee County School District. Why isn’t the press covering these rampant attempts to eradicate citizen free speech? If the press does not do it, the people will because they are very angry!
Joyce Campana
Fort Myers