An important message to our Marco Island Neighbors:
This year’s Marco Island City Council election is crucial for the future of our community. With four of the seven seats up for election, the choices we make will shape the direction of our island for years to come.
In recent years, the City Council has been heavily influenced by pro-development and pro-tourism interests. This has led to a decline in the quality of life for many residents to the point where some have chosen to leave the island altogether.
This election is a chance to reverse that trend and safeguard the unique charm and livability of our small-town paradise. We are fortunate to have two exceptional candidates—Tamara Goehler and Stephen Gray—who have no conflicts of interest and no ties to special interest groups. Their primary goal is to preserve the beauty and quality of life that make Marco Island such a wonderful place to live.
We believe that the voters need the whole truth in order to make an educated decision. Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler have spent a great deal of time composing clear, honest statements about their goals and values here, so that you can make an informed decision on November 5. Thank you for doing this research. If you have any questions or concerns you’d like to share with them, please reach out via the form below.
Thank you!
-- the Gray-Goehler Campaign Team, which is composed of a group of island residents who share the goal of keeping Marco a wonderful place to live
Our goals and values:
We envision a Marco Island City Council that listens to the community, respects residents' concerns, and responds to issues swiftly and effectively. We are determined to ensure that Council decisions benefit the residents without the influence of special interests.
Our core promises to the Marco Island Community:
1) Encourage community input, respect residents' views, and honor the desires of the voters in our decisions. Promote harmony and unity on the island by seeking reasonable win/win solutions, collaboration and compromise.
2) Work to restore the community’s trust in Council through greater honesty, transparency, and ethical decision-making that is free from the influence of conflicts of interest and hidden agendas.
3) Champion the protection of our waterways and environment through strategies that are well-researched, cost-efficient and truly effective.
4) Address short-term rental problems through a three-pronged comprehensive approach that includes legal and reasonable STR rules, greater enforcement of those rules, and the creation of a more effective and enforceable noise ordinance.
5) Prioritize the preservation of Marco’s small town charm by more responsibly managing density and development.
6) Keep taxes as low as possible and exercise even greater fiscal responsibility than Council has in recent years by prioritizing spending on the island’s true needs instead of efforts to bring more tourists to the island. We would also increase efforts to secure grants and federal funds for essential infrastructure projects. We believe the residents should be allowed more input into how their tax dollars are allocated.
7) Take much needed action to address key infrastructure issues like the need for sound bridges and healthier waterways.
8) Advocate for improvement in the permitting process so that those who need permits can get them processed in a fair and timely manner.
9) Support improved traffic flow through technology and by halting efforts to bring even more visitors to the island during peak season.
10) Better balance resident and business interests. We want to make it easy for our local businesses to thrive, but not at the expense of quality of life for the residents. Keeping Marco Island a wonderful place to live is our number one goal.
Community
Promoting safe, peaceful neighborhoods and a unified Marco Island community
Density
Following the City’s strategic plan by responsibly managing density and development
Environment
Responsible stewardship of our treasured natural environment and waterways
To learn where Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler stand on specific Marco Island issues, please click below.
Election Day 2024
A fresh start for Marco Island!
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WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Do You Love Marco Island?
We need YOUR help to keep Marco Island a wonderful place to live. There are many ways you can help: You can vote for this dedicated team of community leaders, support their campaigns, and spread the word about them to your island friends and neighbors.
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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler, 2024 candidates for Marco Island City Council