EDITOR’S NOTE: The following opinion was submitted by Committee of the Islands. The Santiva Chronicle publishes opinions and letters on topics that are important to Sanibel and Captiva. They may be submitted via e-mail at news@santivachronicle.com.
These are challenging times as Election Day approaches on Sanibel. After being battered by Hurricane lan in 2022, the city was dealt a setback in 2024 by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. While neither made a direct hit on Sanibel, they did substantial damage. Throughout this trying period, our City Council has served us admirably by securing funding to offset large-scale revenue losses and easing regulations to help ensure that resilient build back is not delayed unnecessarily by red tape. Additionally, the Council’s decision-making processes and communications strategies have accelerated progress and reassured residents and business owners. These processes should continue.
All four candidates for election to the City Council on March 4 have demonstrated a commitment to the values expressed in The Sanibel Plan and Vision Statement that are central to the mission of the Committee of the Islands (COTI).
With that background, we believe the three incumbent Council members running for reelection – Laura DeBruce, John Henshaw and Mike Miller – have earned reelection by virtue of their effective past service and experience. They have COTI’s enthusiastic endorsement.
Lyman (Chip) Welch has served well during his two years on the Planning Commission. We hope he will continue in that important role and consider running for City Council again in the future.
Committee of the Islands (COTI) was established in 1975 as a Florida not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation of the environment and small-town character of our barrier island community and to the continuity of good local government. For more information, visit COTI.org.
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