One word seemed to come up more than any other during a forum for mayoral candidates in Naples.
That word? Development.
Three mayoral candidates were up first to answer questions, address concerns and discuss their priorities at the public event, held Thursday night at a packed city hall.
Candidates talk with journalists: Watch: Naples election forum where mayoral and council candidates participate in Q&A
Then the six candidates vying for three seats on council got their turn, sharing their views on myriad issues, including the direction of growth and development – or redevelopment, as much of the city is already built out.
The event, organized by the League of Women Voters of Collier County and the Collier Forum Coalition, was moderated by Wendy Fullerton Powell, executive editor for the Naples Daily News, and John Davis, an assistant news director, and a reporter and Gulf Coast Life Arts Edition host, for WGCU Public Media.
The forum was more conversational and civil, but wasn’t without conflict or disagreement over facts and ideas. There were strict time limits on answering questions from the moderators and the audience during the event, which required overflow seating.