Anderson holds fundraising event at Bert’s
Editors Note: This story has been corrected; a misidentified quote attributed to Micahel Dreikorn has been removed.
Dick Anderson, candidate for Lee County Commission District 3, held a fundraiser at Bert’s Bar & Seafood Grill last Tuesday night. There were 40 to 50 people present.
After a brief moment of silence for Phil Buchanan, Ray Judah introduced Anderson.
“This island is really special, Matlacha and Pine Island,” Ray Judah said. “It’s always been special for me and Dick Anderson. Dick has roots here in Southwest Florida for over 40 years.
“I am here to introduce Dick Anderson,” Judah said. “I think Dick Anderson is a qualified, credible candidate running for Lee County Commission District 3. You may know that County Commissioners are voted on countywide. So while Dick lives in Bonita Springs, he’s going to need your votes to win office. Dick Anderson is a ‘clean water candidate’ who understands the importance of restoring and protecting our waterways.”
“I do want to say that the ‘Cool Cherokee’ was a friend of mine,” Anderson said. “If you know Phil, that was his email handle. “Phil and I disagreed occasionally but we agreed on a lot more than we disagreed on. We’re all going to miss Phil Buchanan.”
Anderson arrived in Southwest Florida 40 years ago. He has a masters degree in education and urban and regional planning. He teaches at FGCU a course entitled The Economics of the Environment.
“In 1980 I started with the Lee County Planning Department and we wrote the first comprehensive plan,” Anderson said. “Most of my career has been in the private sector as a businessman and conservative Republican.
“Four years ago Larry Kiker was elected with ‘Big Sugar’ money,” Anderson said. “I can promise I will not take Big Sugar money. The real reason I’m running is that I am a father and grandfather and just like you I want to leave something better for by children and grandchildren. I believe in the next 4 or 5 years we will make decisions that will effect their future.”
According to Anderson, the population of Southwest Florida will double in the next 20-25 years while at the same time County Commissioners cut transportation impact fees and funding for future roads resulting in a loss of $25 million.
“Currently, the Lee County Commissioners are doing nothing about the Lake Okeechobe releases,” Anderson said. “What I plan on doing, if elected, because it’s essential to our economy, is I will lead a coalition of private business people and go to Tallahassee to tell them that Lee County is going to stop being the septic tank for Lake Okeechobee.”
According to Anderson, about 60,000 to 80,000 acres of land is needed to “filter” water south of Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades.
“This is recreating nature, like Mother Nature did it before we diverted the water into the two rivers,” he said.
Questions & Answers
Q. So far there doesn’t seem that there will be a Democrat candidate. How does this work when there are two Republicans?
A. I am running as a Republican and so is my opponent. We are the only two candidates that have entered the race and qualifying ends at the end of June. Then there will be a primary. In this case, if there isn’t a Democrat candidate, the primary will be the election. The one that wins the primary wins the election and the primary is Aug. 30.
Q. Do you have to be registered as a Republican to vote for a Republican?
A. This is a new wrinkle. The answer is probably yes. In an open primary, without an opposing Democrat, anyone can vote for whoever they want. But I believe an Independent candidate will run. If that’s the case then only people registered as Republicans can vote for a Republican and those registered as Democrat vote Democrat.
Q. Can a voter change his or her registration before the election?
A. Yes, and a lot of people are doing that. It has to be done 30 days before the election and then it can be changed back after the election.
Q. Do you have a website?
A. I do, www.anderson4lee-county.com
Q. I’ve read that some of our politicians have gone to Washington. What are they going there to get?
A. One of the proposed plans is to build a reservoir north of the lake (Okeechobee). This is what they are trying to get money for. But a reservoir isn’t going to solve the problem.
“I want to thank you for coming out tonight. It going to take 30,000 to 35,000 votes to win the election,” Anderson said. “I hope to have your support.”