The Path to Tallahassee Leads Through Shell Point
FORT MYERS, FL – “We sure do appreciate you coming here to see us…”
Many residents began their questions to the two main candidates for the Florida Governor’s race by thanking them for visiting. It’s not every day that people can have a personal audience with the people whose names they’ll be choosing in November’s general elections.
On August 1, current Governor Jeb Bush travelled to Shell Point and spoke to a crowd gathered at The Village Church. He had been here before (he and his mother Barbara Bush were campaigning for brother George), but this time it was just him, talking about Florida’s current issues and his potential solutions.
Two weeks later, Democratic candidate Janet Reno drove her red pickup truck to the Village Church’s driveway to make a similar campaign stop. After being appointed by President Clinton in 1993 as the first female Attorney General, Reno has returned to run for the office of Governor of the state in which she was born and raised.
“We’re honored to welcome these candidates to come to speak to our residents,” said Shell Point President Peter Dys. “We have always extended the offer to anyone from any political party to speak, so that our residents can make informed decisions as to how to vote on Election Day.”
Shell Point’s voting precinct averages a 78 percent voter turnout, so politicians of all stripes have always considered it an important proving ground. Indeed, U.S. Representative Porter Goss, State Senator Burt Saunders, State Representative Carole Green, and State Representative Jeff Kottkamp have all visited in the past 2 years.
So who will be the big winner in November? Chances are, it will be someone who has visited Shell Point!
