Election 2024: Garey Cooper hopes to bring "balance and sensibility" to council

This is part of a series in which Naples candidates speak about key issues.

Garey Cooper is one of six running for three open seats on Naples City Council.

A local real estate agent, he said he's running to bring "balance and sensibility to a city that is at extremes."

"I want the pendulum to rest in the middle and address issues in a fashion that mutual benefit is the result of managed solutions," he said.

These are his views on some of the hottest topics in the city:

Growth and development

There are many lots sitting empty and non-productive, including the Four Corners. They present a great opportunity to provide desirable alternatives for residents and visitors to shop, dine and enjoy. What to build is the key to allow for growth and inevitable expansion in a managed way that the people can get excited about. Perhaps performance bonds for builders could help speed up project fruition and bring transparency to intentions to build. This creates a start and end date and discourages razing of structures before completion dates are agreed upon.

Parking and traffic

Free and unlimited parking on streets and garages is not the friend of Naples city residents or a revenue source. The traffic comes in spikes at peak hours from the outlying county areas because Fifth Avenue and the beaches are so popular. Traffic studies need to be done not only to provide statistics but to propose ideas that can result in solutions. I would get thoroughly involved in how to improve this.

Taxes and spending

When there are more ways to increase revenue, the taxes will be stable. The tax base is not increasing in the city only the number of visitors.

The budget is passed and agreed upon by council.

Spending can be decided on, but reserve funds generated by increased revenues from businesses and tourism, these funds are key for emergencies and changing priority order.

Affordable housing

New construction developers, mostly in the county, should have to devote a percentage of the housing to this. There are some opportunities in mixed use reconstruction in the city to include this, but most of it will come from the large new developments in the surrounding areas. This will allow the workforce to be in decent proximity to work locations.

Public safety

Funding for police, firefighters and public safety, this is in everyone's interest and benefit. Sustaining these sectors for longevity and advancement opportunity is vital to daily lifestyle quality.

Asked if he had anything to add, he said: "All of these topics need to have the same system of solution-based methods to address issues in order to promote the common good and allow this wonderful place to grow and prosper with a level playing field for all."

Other thoughts

Asked if he had anything to add, Cooper said: "All of these topics need to have the same system of solution-based methods to address issues in order to promote the common good and allow this wonderful place to grow and prosper with a level playing field for all."

Through his own campaign, he's raised about $13,760.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples election: Cooper wants "pendulum to rest in the middle" on council