Collier County Commissioner Burt Saunders. (Image: CCBC)
Feb. 13, 2024 by David Silverberg
Collier County Commissioner Burt Saunders (R-District 3) is calling on the county to study whether to fundamentally change its governing structure.
Saunders is requesting the Board of Commissioners discuss his proposal at its next meeting on Feb. 27.
The question is whether the county should continue as a “single member district” government, with each commissioner representing a specific geographic area, or go to a “county-wide” government, with commissioners being elected by county residents as a whole.
“I believe that utilizing county-wide elections of county commissioners will result in better decision-making by the commission,” Saunders wrote in an e-mail to constituents today. “With county-wide elections, commissioners will be forced to consider the impacts of their decisions on the entire county, not just the district in which the commissioner resides.”
Saunders stated in his message that he will ask for the question to be scheduled on a date certain so that the public can comment.
“The request is simply for the Commission to create a study committee to report back to the County Commission its findings concerning the positives and negatives of each form of governance permitted in Florida,” he wrote.
However, if the issue is studied and the Board agrees, it could face a referendum this year. The language must be presented to the Supervisor of Elections by Aug. 20 so that it can be included in the Nov. 5 general election ballot. It would then take effect in the 2026 election.
“Ultimately, it is the wishes of our citizens that determines how the county should be governed,” he wrote.
Saunders is making the proposal at a time when the Board’s Chair, Commissioner Rick LoCastro (R-District 1) is facing criminal charges. Last Wednesday, Feb. 7, he was charged with domestic battery following an October altercation with his girlfriend. Following what was characterized as a medical emergency, he was arrested, booked, incarcerated and released on bond. His lawyer has stated LoCastro is innocent and will fight the charges.
History and background
According to Saunders, the last time Collier County’s government was evaluated was over 35 years ago, when it had a much lower population and was less of an international tourist destination. The changes since then warrant a re-examination, he stated.
All of Florida’s 67 counties have five districts.
Collier County is in the minority (one of 20 counties) with a single-member structure. It has had that structure since 1988.
Most Florida counties (40) have county-wide commissioners. This is the default mode in the state.
Seven counties have a mixed structure, with five resident commissioners and two at-large commissioners.
Each structure has its strengths and weaknesses.
Single-member districts can “result in decisions being made that are not necessarily in the best interests of the entire county,” wrote Saunders. “If a District Commissioner objects to a project, the other 4 commissioners have no ‘political’ push back since they are only selected from their individual districts.” On the other hand, single-member districts make it easier to elect minority members.
On the other hand, “With county-wide elections, commissioners will be forced to consider the impacts of their decisions on the entire county, not just the district in which the commissioner resides.”
Proponents of mixed districts “claim that it allows some commissioners to bring a countywide view on matters brought before the board while also allowing more district-based commissioners to advocate for specific areas of the County.”
If a study committee is formed, as Saunders is proposing, “This committee would evaluate the basic types of county governance and the pros and cons of each for consideration by the Commission.”
Below is the Executive Summary of Saunders’ proposal in full
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Request that the Board consider scheduling a referendum on returning to at-large commission districts, wherein each Commissioner would reside in one of the five Commission Districts but would be elected in a County-wide vote.
OBJECTIVE: That the Board evaluate the pros and cons of returning to at-large Commission Districts, and consider creating a study committee for this evaluation.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Overview of County Commission Districts in Florida
In Florida all counties are divided into five Commission districts. There are three basic types of county governance in Florida:
(1) At-large districts (40 counties), in which each District has a resident Commissioner, with all five Commissioners elected in a county-wide election. This is the default mode of County government in Florida.
(2) Single member districts (20 counties), in which each District has a resident Commissioner, and is elected on a District basis. Since 1988 this has been the model used by Collier County.
(3) A mixed district (7 counties) consisting of a combination of five single members (elected on a District by District basis) and two at-large commissioners (elected on a County wide basis). Proponents of the mixed system claim that it allows some commissioners to bring a countywide view on matters brought before the board while also allowing more district-based commissioners to advocate for specific areas of the County.
Returning to county-wide commission elections requires a voter approved referendum which could be conducted during the general election in November, 2024. The deadline to schedule such a referendum is August 20, 2024, at which time ballot language must be presented to the Supervisor of Elections. If approved, the changes would take effect in the 2026 election.
History of the Creation of the Single Member Districts in Collier County
For much of Collier County’s history the County operated under the at-large district system. On December 1, 1987, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution calling for a referendum election to be held on March 8, 1988, to submit the following question to the electors of Collier County: “Shall the five members of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, be elected to office from single-member districts by electors residing in each of those districts only?” By a vote of 14,521 in favor (Yes) to a 13,745 vote against (No), the single-member county commission district referendum passed. Obviously, Collier County has dramatically changed since the 1988 vote, with a county population approaching 500,000. There are now 255,099 registered voters in the County. It is time to re-evaluate the structure of county government and to let our citizens determine what is the best type of county governance for the future.
Chapter 124.011(10), Florida Statutes, allows Collier County to return to being an at-large district by going back through the same referendum/proposition process as occurred in 1988.
The request is to create a study committee to evaluate the pros and cons of returning to county-wide commission elections. This committee could be formed very quickly, with each commissioner appointing the members, or this could be assigned to an existing committee, such as the Productivity Committee, for a thorough and timely review. This committee would evaluate the basic types of county governance and the pros and cons of each for consideration by the Commission.
There is an argument that at-large systems can have an adverse impact by making it more difficult for minority residents to elect a minority representative to the commission. Though that is certainly a valid and important consideration, many other factors should also be addressed as well in evaluating what is best for all Collier County residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: None at this time.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, creates no legal issues at this time and requires majority vote for Board action.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board appoint a study committee to report back to the County Commission as to the pros and cons of scheduling a binding referendum of all registered Collier County voters on the issue of utilizing county-wide elections of County Commissioners, beginning with the 2026 election cycle.
Liberty lives in light
© 2024 by David Silverberg