NFM Civic, Chamber prepares to hold virtual forum
In the past, the North Fort Myers Civic Association and the Chamber of Commerce have held candidate forums, sometimes multiple ones, at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center for candidates at the national, state and local levels.
However, with COVID-19 and the likelihood the rec center will not be available, the organizations are looking at holding a virtual forum covering multiple nights.
The forum is set to take place after the August Primary on Sept. 15, 17, 22 and 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 and from 8 to 9 p.m.
Civic President Doug Dailey announced the plan during the civic association’s monthly meeting (its first virtual one) at Liberty Tax office.
The forums will invite candidates for U.S. and State Representative, Lee County Sheriff, property appraiser, county commissioner and school board.
The idea makes sense on more than just a health level. Forums, especially those during primary season, tend to be way too brief to give people any idea who the candidates are, allowing them just a few minutes to describe themselves and their platform.
Each race will receive an hour for candidates to discuss their platform and debate the issues from people watching online and taking their questions.
With the rec center’s situation, it appears likely the civic association won’t have its typical spot any time soon. As it stands right now, the next meeting on Aug. 11 is set for the Chamber of Commerce offices at the Shell Factory, which can accommodate about 20 people, including board members.
In other business, the NFMCA named Bob Hill a new member of the governing board, replacing Laura Ray who left for unspecified reasons.
The decision was not popular with everybody. Laura Lewis said she didn’t think the board was given enough time to find a replacement and that the decision on Hill was a surprise even to her.
Dailey said there had been talking about replacing Ray for several months and that Hill would make a great board member, with him making most of the meetings. Lewis was the lone vote against making Hill a member.
The group also decided to serve as proponents for the Paradise Isles project, which will go before the hearing examiner July 29-31.
The civic association said it would try to get chamber and Rotary support, as well as many other North residents to come for the public input portion of the hearing on July 30 starting at 1 p.m.
Only those who speak at the HEX meeting can speak during the County Commissioners meeting to approve the project.
Some fears have arisen that the city of Cape Coral could voluntarily annex the property, especially after several planned meetings were postponed. However, Cape Coral city officials said last week that no application requesting annexation has been received.
Dailey said that even though there were volume and connectivity issues at times, for the first time doing a virtual meeting it went fairly well.
“We got several responses and good interaction. Going into the digital age for the first time, I think it was a hit,” Dailey said. “There’s always room for improvement. Some voices were muffled since most of us wore masks, but I’d give us a passing grade.”