Jim Coletta - Re-election Campaign for Collier County Board of Commissioners, District 5 - In The News

NDN: Back to work for you

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:49:00 -0400

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

Coletta keeps his District 5 County Commission seat

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:12:00 -0400

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.

(...)

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."

(...)

On The Mark

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:51:00 -0400

"County Commissioner Dist. 5: Jim Coletta. There is no better definition of a true servant of the people than Jim Coletta, and his open-door attitude to everyone is a great asset to us all."

Read online

Letters To Editors: The complete commissioner

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:43:00 -0400

Editor, Daily News:

Will you be choosing a candidate on party affiliation or will you be choosing a candidate on experience and qualifications?

I first met Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta on Collier Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road eight years ago. He was out on the street with his family waving at the passing cars; he was running for the District 5 commission seat.

I asked hubby to turn around; I wanted to know what this guy stood for before I would consider voting for him. Coletta answered some strong questions, then said he had his background biography written and he would drop it off at my home. He did just that.

I read through this very thick volume, listing many years of community service. With each page I became more impressed. He had been working for the betterment of the community as a whole, not just District 5, and he had been working for everyone, not just a segment of the population.

[More]

Naples Daily News: Endorses Jim Coletta For General Election November 4th

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:34:00 -0400

What was an easy choice in the Republican primary is an easy choice again. Jim Coletta has been an outstanding public servant for the past eight years as the commissioner for Golden Gate Estates, Immokalee and Everglades City. He merits re-election.

As we said in August, he is a friend to business and the underprivileged alike. He champions economic diversification and work-force housing. He beats the drum for better roads and gets results. He leads the fight for better drainage as well as sensible flood maps that save constituents money on their homeowners insurance. He lobbies for impact-fee deferrals for social agencies that ease the costs of services for taxpayers. He has helped guide land-use planning at and around Ave Maria.

He is consistent.

NDN: Coletta Wins Commissioner Race Almost 2 to 1

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:48:00 -0400

"Republicans in eastern and southern Collier County selected incumbent commissioner Jim Coletta by a margin of nearly 2 to 1.

Coletta will now face Democrat Russel Kish in the Nov. 4 general election.

With 100 percent of the votes unofficially reported by Supervisor of Elections Jennifer Edwards, Coletta received 2,193 votes, or 65.54 percent, compared to challenger Roberto “Bob" Alonso, who received 1,153 votes or 34.46 percent.

“Oh my god," Coletta said, when first told of the voting trend. “Oh my god."

“I’m so relieved that I got that voter confidence. Mr. Alonso put on a great campaign. He brought together a large element. I give him a lot of credit," Coletta said. “I’m going to work very hard to win over (those who voted for Alonso) and I want, very much, to bring Mr. Alonso more into (the fold.) Get him involved in advisory boards and committees."

Read the complete articles online

Letter to the Editor: Man for the mission

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:02:00 -0400

Editor, Daily News:

I have been on the Tourist Development Council (TDC) for over four years and served under Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta last year when he was chairman.

Jim was good in directing the TDC on its mission of managing over $14 million in annual bed-tax receipts. He did his homework in discussing the issues and agenda items and was fair and accommodating.

Although I cannot vote for Jim because I live in another district, I urge his re-election.

Murray H. Hendel, Naples

Online Source

Collier Citizen: On The Mark: Coletta is clear choice for District 5

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:09:00 -0400

August 13, 2008 by Mark Strain.

In less than two weeks, voters in District 5 will be asked to choose between two candidates running for the office of county commissioner. As everyone in the district knows, the incumbent is Jim Coletta, who has served his district with dedication and untiring enthusiasm. There may be reasons to seek changes for many other elected offices on the primary ballot, but considering a change from Commissioner Coletta is unwarranted for many reasons.

For decades, the focus of Collier County has been on developing the infrastructure to make the lives of citizens in the high-value coastal area as comfortable as possible. Prior administrations clearly outlined needs for constant improvements to the “coastal area of Collier" using tax resources, many times acquired from not only that area, but the eastern part of the county, as well. In the past, the western portion of the county saw its hoped-for improvements become reality one after another, while District 5 and other inland areas experienced one delay after another in realizing the same conveniences.

That all changed when Jim Coletta became District 5’s elected official to the Board of Commissioners. Rather than see more improvement derailed in our area, Jim has insisted on prioritizing budget needs for improvements within the District. During his time in office, we have benefitted from vast improvements to our road system, our parks and libraries; changes that balance development with environmental concerns for our rural farm lands and the realization that Immokalee is becoming the agricultural and industrial hub of this county, along with all the business incentives and job creation benefits that will bring.

[More]

Letter to the Editor: Rescued and grateful

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:16:00 -0400

Editor, Daily News:

Thank you, Collier County, for preventing “big government," also known as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, from imposing flood insurance on Golden Gate Estates homeowners.

County Manager Jim Mudd and Development Services Administrator Joe Schmitt, along with county engineers Stan Chrzanowski and Robert Wiley, have done a great job of staying on top of this issue. Commissioner Jim Coletta was also personally involved, traveling to Atlanta and meeting with FEMA. I do not mean to single out Coletta, as the entire county board supported resolutions in opposition to FEMA’s misguided studies and conclusions.

FEMA proposed in 2000 to change the flood zone for Golden Gate Estates from D to A. Flood zone D means “undetermined" and flood insurance is available but not required. Flood zone A means there is a 1 percent annual chance of flooding and therefore flood insurance is mandatory if you have a mortgage.

A house with a replacement cost of $100,000 would expect a premium of about $1,000 per year. Therefore, if every home (and guest home) were required to purchase flood insurance every year, the annual cost to Estates residents could easily top $50 million. “Thank you" to them all.

The cost of living is high enough without having to pay the federal government another $1,000 to $2,000 per year for something we do not need.

David Farmer, Golden Gate Estates

Letter to the Editor: Coletta is tireless public servant

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:31:00 -0400

Dear Editor:

Almost decade ago, prior to moving to Naples, I had a telephone conversation
with Jim Coletta. He was then the President of the Golden Gate Estates Area
Civic Association. We had never met or talked before, but he graciously
spent 45 minutes answering my questions about Naples and Collier County. A
few months after our phone conversation, he was elected Commissioner for
District 5.

From the day he first took office to the present day he has worked
tirelessly and effectively on behalf of Estates residents. Working closely
with state and federal agencies, Jim Coletta was the driving force in
identifying and implementing the security measures Collier County needed in
the post 9/11 world. His leadership shaped the County's response to West
Nile Virus and brought mosquito control services to all the Estates. Without
his tireless efforts, Golden Gate Boulevard and Immokalee Road would still
be backed up for miles daily.

As Commissioner, Jim Coletta has worked ceaselessly for the good of
residents of District 5 and has consistently exemplified the highest
standards of ethical conduct.

Commissioner Jim Coletta will get my vote on August 26th because he is a
living example of a true public servant.

Dr. Sparks Lunney, Golden Gate Estates

Collier Citizen endorses Jim Coletta

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:23:00 -0400

Russel Tuff writes today

"The Republican ticket for Collier Commission District 5 is an easy choice. Incumbent Jim Coletta’s dedication, sincerity, and incorruptibility speak for themselves. In addition, he has represented his constituents well. He and I have had our differences, but he’s a politician who can set opinions aside and still move forward. He knows the issues and the challenges of his district better than anyone, and has made good progress on a board that doesn’t always see a need to invest in Eastern Collier County."

Read the complete article on this month's primary elections

League of Women Voters/AAUW Candidates Survey

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:18:00 -0400

August 4, 2008 Naples, Florida, The Greater Naples Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters of Collier County (LWVCC) release the results of their joint candidate survey to assist voters in their deliberations in the August 26, 2008 Primary.

Neither AAUW nor LWVCC endorse or oppose any candidates or political party. The questions were sent to the candidates for Collier County School Board, Collier County Commission District 5, Collier County Sheriff, and State Representative Candidates for House District 75, 77, 101 and 112.
(...)
County Commission candidates were asked their positions on environmental issues, gender equity, affordable housing, diversity and funding of social services.

(...) Get the complete survey in PDF format and click here

NDN: Coletta enjoys the job so much, he wants third term on Collier Commission

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:39:00 -0400
Online Source: Naples Daily News on May 13, 2008

You’ll never hear Jim Coletta complain about the stresses that go along with being a Collier County commissioner.

“I love this job," Coletta said. “I’ve enjoyed every single day. Even the stressful times are enjoyable because you’re accomplishing something.

To the surprise of no one, Coletta, 64, recently filed to run for a third term in office. His present term as District 5 commissioner representing all of Collier County east of Collier Boulevard ends in 2008.

No one has filed to run against Coletta yet in the nonpartisan race. The current salary for a county commissioner is $74,688.

“I’ve developed a rapport with the public and I think they believe I’m doing a good job," Coletta said. “I’m sometimes accused of agitating people, but what I’m really doing is trying to get people involved."

Coletta, who has served two four-year terms as commissioner, said his primary accomplishments include restoring trust in a commission that had been battered by scandal in the late 90s, building and widening roads, pushing for more affordable housing and green space, and getting more hospitals and medical clinics into the inland part of the county.

Coletta sees his biggest challenge as reintroducing himself to the people in his district. Coletta estimated 30 percent to 40 percent of the people now living in District 5 weren’t there when he was first elected in 2000.

Coletta ran unopposed in 2004, so it’ll be eight years since his name has been on a ballot.

“It’s going to require quite an outreach," Coletta said. “But the truth is I love campaigns. That’s why I filed (to run for re-election) so early."

He was actually a little disappointed in 2004 when he didn’t have an opponent, Coletta said.

If elected to a third term Coletta hopes to look into a charter form of government for Collier, work to consolidate the independent fire districts, increase beach access and work toward the widening of Interstate 75.

The most challenging issue Coletta may face in the short term involves toll lanes on I-75. Coletta wants the voters to decide if two lanes of the interstate should be tolled after the road is widened from four lanes to six in the next few years.

Collier and Lee County officials want the road widened again to eight or 10 lanes, and it appears the only way to do that in the next 10-20 years is by tolling two lanes of the road.

The Southwest Florida Expressway Authority is pushing for the tolls, but Collier commissioners have expressed opposition to this idea. Coletta, a member of the expressway authority, is the only commissioner who has expressed a willingness to consider the possibility.

“This is a big issue," Coletta said. “It has to be taken out of the hands of politicians and go to the voters. I hope the other commissioners will allow that to happen."

Three of the five commissioners must support putting the issue on the ballot. That means Coletta must talk two of his fellow commissioners into supporting it.

“I just want the issue to go on the ballot," Coletta said, adding that he hoped the other commissioners would agree to let it go to the voters.