Now that another campaign season has come to an end, it is time to pick up the pieces and to put away the rhetoric and bury the animosity of personal political agendas.

Let’s give a moment of thanks to all of the candidates who put their lives on hold as they pursued public office. While some candidates were winners and others were losers, we all won, in that our leaders were chosen by a public process that is democracy in its greatest form.

Personally, I am glad to see this election cycle come to an end. Now I can get back to devoting 100 percent of my time to my job as your county commissioner.

For those who voted for me or supported my campaign for re-election, thank you for your trust. For those of you who supported my worthy opponent, I will strive extra hard in coming years to meet your needs and expectations.

Together we will face great challenges in the coming years, but within those challenges will come opportunities to build a better, more friendly government.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve you.

Thank you.

— Jim Coletta, Golden Gate Estates, Collier County Commissioner, District 5

NAPLES — Incumbent Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta kept a firm hold on his seat in District 5.

Of the 36,312 registered voters in the district, a large majority of them chose to retain Coletta, a Republican, over challenger Russell Kish, a Democrat.

With all 94 precincts reporting, the unofficial totals gave Coletta 11,817 votes, or 64.2 percent, and Kish 6,589 votes, or 35.8 percent.

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Coletta was overwhelmed with well-wishers Tuesday night.

“I feel great. Very relieved that this is over. I’ve been on the campaign trail almost two years," Coletta said. “I’m so appreciative of all who helped and voted for me, but now I have to work to win the trust of that 33 percent who didn’t vote for me."

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Dear Editor:

Re: District 5 Commission Seat. Don’t be held hostage by your political party -- don’t just blindly go to the polls and vote party lines. You need to study the candidates as to what experience they have and what they can offer the position.

Where would we be if we all voted party line and our candidates have no experience at all? Where would we be if that candidate is going to make the office he’s running for a second or third job? District 5 is one of the largest in the state -- very widespread and diversified. We really need a commissioner who will be there for us 100 percentwhen the need arises, not someone we will have to go looking for at another job site and not someone running for office just to see if he can win. We need a full-time commissioner in this job.

We have incumbent Jim Coletta, who gave years of public service long before he ran for office eight years ago. We have seen our district prosper and grow under his stewardship. Commissioner Coletta works for everyone in the district: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, voters and non-voters. He is here for us 100 percent during good times and bad.

District 5 needs Jim Coletta during these uncertain times. He is a man of experience we can trust. Vote for the future of our district, vote for Jim Coletta.

Bill Monetta,  Golden Gate Estates