Live blog: Final Naples mayor, Marco results in. Collier Republicans also had their vote

8:10 p.m. | Unofficial Naples final results are in

The unofficial final results are in for the Naples mayor's race with 100% precincts reporting, and it looks like this as of 8:10 p.m. Tuesday:

Voters were deciding on three Naples City Council members. These are the unofficial final results, with 100% precincts reporting.

Well, that's a wrap on today's blog. Go to naplesnews.com and our Naples and Marco Island local results page for more coverage and totals into the night and Wednesday morning. You'll also be able to track statewide and county-by-county Republican tallies at our election site.

7:33 p.m. | Marco Island final results are in

The Marco Island results are in for its charter amendments, with all precincts reporting, according to the city.

The salary proposal increase received 2,401 "No" votes and 1,555 "Yes" votes. That's a 61% to 39% result.

Amendment: Time for a raise? Marco Islanders to vote on City Council pay, title change to mayor

And the proposed title change received 2,135 "No" votes and 1,807 "Yes" votes. That works out to 54% to 46%.

Go to naplesnews.com and our Naples and Marco Island local results page for coverage and totals into the night and Wednesday morning.

You'll also be able to track statewide and county-by-county Republican tallies at our election site.

New name: Is a mayor coming to Marco Island? Council elects chair and vice chair, talks about raise

7:00 p.m. | Stick a fork in it

The clock has struck 7, and the polls are now closed on this beautiful, breezy Tuesday evening that we’d like to hang onto for the next eight months or so.

Let the counting begin.

All told, the combination of Lee and Collier counties had 361,238 folks eligible to vote today, mostly Republicans because Democrats didn’t have a presidential preference election, according to state records.

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That Southwest Florida combo is more than any one county in Florida except for Miami-Dade’s 438,931. Lee, by itself, shows nearly 224,000 while Collier has more than 137,000.

Other contingents with more than 200,000 include: Hillsborough, 279,772; Palm Beach, 271,209; Broward, 249,972; Pinellas, 235,309; Duval, 230,353; and Orange, 211,353.

Go to naplesnews.com and our Naples and Marco Island local results page for coverage and totals into the night and Wednesday morning. You'll also be able to track statewide and county-by-county Republican tallies at our election site.

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5:47 p.m. | 'Wide Open Spaces' in Naples

If you waited to vote in Naples, you may be in luck. Well, not counting the snowbird traffic you'll encounter.

My colleague Liz Freeman reported little to no activity in the last hour or so at the Baker Center and not much at Faith Lutheran either if those are your precincts. Pretty much a Dixie Chicks moment of "Wide Open Spaces."

But remember you only have until 7 p.m. if you're casting your ballot in the cities of Naples and Marco Island or for the Republican race for president in Collier County.

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

4:06 p.m. | Mulling the Marco amendments

Boston retirees Michael Quinn and Maria Tela voted at Marco Island's Precinct 190 and supported the two amendments on the community's ballot: One that would change the title of the City Council chairman and vice chairman to Mayor and vice mayor; the other to boost the salary of council members starting in fiscal year 2026-2027.

“I think it’s about time they got a raise,” Quinn told my colleague, J. Kyle Foster. “I think the salary was kind of an honorarium.”

“It’s a better name,” Tela said, adding that she hadn’t realized the chairman name didn’t get changed when Marco became a city. “I never knew they kept those stupid titles.”

Both have been island owners since 1986, longer than the three years for the Tucker family ― Richard, Lisa and Kaitlyn ― former Miamians who were at the polling place Tuesday afternoon.

“I was OK with the salary increase,” Richard Tucker said. “I didn’t see any reason to incur the administrative expenses to change the name.”

“It did look like the salaries could stand to be updated if you want to get good people in the positions,” he said.

Richard Tucker said he worked for Florida Power & Light, which became a subsidiary for NextEra Energy: “It cost million of dollars just to change the name.”

Lisa Tucker voted the same as her husband. “I didn’t have a problem with the salaries being raised.”

She said she thinks the “city runs itself pretty well. … I didn’t see any reason why not to raise the salary.”

Amendments: Time for a raise? Marco Islanders to vote on City Council pay, title change to mayor

“I didn’t really understand the reason for the (name) change,” Lisa Tucker said. “My husband brought up how much it would cost to change it on paper.”

Kaitlyn Tucker said, “I didn’t think of that. I just thought it was less confusing.”

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

2:48 p.m. | The action at St. Ann

Voters at St. Ann Catholic Church were mixed on who they support for mayor.

Many think the election will be close because of a three-way contest with incumbent Teresa Heitmann, Gary Price and Ted Blankenship.

Joan Fletcher of Naples told my colleague Liz Freeman she voted for Price.

“I think he is just a little bit more conservative,” she said.

Local resident Ted Pierce supports Heitmann for another term as mayor.

“I think she is very forward and allowing growth but controlling growth under the code that exists,” Pierce said.

What Scott Gucciardi of Naples found appealing about Heitmann is that she didn’t have political action committees, and the city’s response after 2022's Hurricane Ian was good.

“For as bad as (Ian) was, the clean up was reasonably quick,” he said.

Resident Phyllis West said she’s not happy with the direction of the city in recent years so she favors Price for mayor.

“I think we need to put a stop to all this condo building,” West said, adding that the condominiums are all modern and painted white, which takes away from the charm that Naples used to have resembling Naples, Italy.

“I like what he stands for,” she said of the candidate, who has been criticized for how much money he's received from the real estate and development industry and from political action committees.

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

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1:34 p.m. | Voting at Moorings church

Moorings Presbyterian Church was seeing brisk business with voters in the first half of the day, but they were keeping their choices close to the chest.

Naples resident Jennifer Deane told my colleague Liz Freeman that she is concerned about the growth.

"I think it is inevitable, but I feel like the city itself is small enough that its charm can be contained," Deane said.

Deane declined to say who she voted for but did say she thinks the mayor's race will be close.

Linda Penniman, who is running for City Council, stopped by and said: "I feel great. Hopefully people will vote for the right people."

Mayor Teresa Heitmann came to Moorings Presbyterian and said she appreciated what voters said about the city's response after 2022's Hurricane Ian.

"I stayed at City Hall. I went on every news (segment). I knew I had to because not everyone was here to hear from me, to let them know what was going on," said Heitmann, who is running against Gary Price and Ted Blankenship, both council veterans.

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

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12:42 p.m. | 'Speedy Delivery' for your mail ballot

If you're casting your choice via a Vote-by-Mail ballot, you have a few hours left, Collier Supervisor of Elections Melissa R. Blazier said

In the words of Mr. McFeely from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, on this day before the late Fred Rogers' March 20 birthday, it's time for "Speedy Delivery."

You have until 7 p.m. today to drop it off as a hand-delivered ballot at the Collier elections office at 3750 Enterprise Ave., Naples, or 6 p.m. at one of the satellite locations, North Collier Government Services Center, 2335 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples or Heritage Bay Government Services Center, 15450 Collier Blvd., Naples. That means for both Immokalee and Marco Island residents, it'll be more than an hour round-trip drive to your nearest spot if you leave about now in the current traffic at the moment, according to Google Maps.

Voted mail ballots will not be accepted at polling sites. Those who received a ballot in the mail and decide to vote in person should bring their ballot to their polling location to be canceled and may vote a regular ballot, Blazier said.

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

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11:46 a.m. | Naples development issue

Folks kept shuffling in and out of St. John's Episcopal Church in Naples this morning to cast their ballots.

Naples resident Dan Glynn told my colleague Liz Freeman that he voted to keep Teresa Heitmann as mayor.

"Because I think she is the one who would work to keep the character of Naples going, to restrict undue development," Glynn said.

Resident Frank Napolitano said he's been very happy with the direction of the city but declined to say who he voted for.

"The way they handled Ian was outstanding, and that is when it counts," he said of the brutal 2022 hurricane.

Resident David Cohen said the city needs change, and he voted for mayoral candidate Gary Price.

"I'd like to see the city progress," Cohen said. "Development is good for the city."

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

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10:49 a.m. | Getting help from Mom

At St. John's Episcopal Church in Naples, Gary Price's mother, Betty Plumeri, campaigned for her son who is running for mayor.

"I'm always optimistic, but I'm also worried. I think he is absolutely the best. He's solid in his thinking," she told my colleague, Liz Freeman.

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Long time resident Clay Cone also is for Price.

"I think his experience on the council previously and his business experience makes him the ideal choice for mayor," Cone said.

A contingent of Teresa Heitmann supporters to win another term as mayor were pitching for her.

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"She's kept her promises. She got us through COVID and Ian," Susan Anderson said, the latter noting 2022's disastrous hurricane.

Heitmann's campaign has not been negative, Anderson said, that has been important to her.

"She's been positive," Anderson said of the mayor, who's also competing against Ted Blankenship, who is giving up his current council seat, in hopes of taking over the lead role.

Keep checking back here for today's continuing updates.

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10:10 a.m. | Don't forget your ID

The high temperature today of only the mid to upper 70s helps remind us one reason we call this home and also makes it easier to get to the ballot box. Consider that a lot of the nation this morning is in the 30s, as far south as neighboring Georgia and Alabama.

But before departing the house, don't forget your ID, Collier Supervisor of Elections Melissa R. Blazier said.

Florida law requires voters to provide picture and signature identification when voting in person, she said.

Here is a sampling of approved forms of current ID, according to Blazier: Florida Driver License, DHSMV-issued Florida ID, US Passport, debit or credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID, public assistance ID, a veteran health ID card issued by the US Department of Veteran Affairs, a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or an employee ID issued by a Florida branch, department, agency or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county or a municipality.

If the ID presented at the polls contains a photo, but no signature, the voter will be asked to provide an additional form of acceptable ID with their signature, Blazier said.

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

9:09 a.m. | No more murky skies over Marco

The murky skies of earlier this morning are giving way to sunshine and less humid temperatures as voters on Marco Island head to the polls on this first day of Spring.

My colleague J, Kyle Foster reports that Marco residents are voting on two amendments to the charter: One that would change the title of the City Council chairman and vice chairman to Mayor and vice mayor; the other to boost the salary of council members starting in fiscal year 2026-2027.

More money: Time for a raise? Marco Islanders to vote on City Council pay, title change to mayor

The title change would make with no changes to current powers and authority, term limits, or eligibility.  If approved, it will go into effect after the votes are certified by the Collier County Supervisor of Elections during the March 29 Canvassing Board meeting.

Council members’ salaries have remained the same since 1997 when Marco’s charter was adopted. Voters are being asked whether the annual pay should be increased for chairman to $17,200 from $9,000 and for councilors to $11,500 from $6,000. Approval also includes an annual general wage adjustment equal to the cost of living provided to city employees.

Check back here for continuing updates.

Name change: Is a mayor coming to Marco Island? Council elects chair and vice chair, talks about raise

8 a.m. | The first hour of voting complete

The first hour of voting is complete today in Collier County, with 11 more to go until the precincts close at 7 p.m. so keep checking back here as we follow the day's events.

While a few of us have been distracted by the start of NCAA basketball's March Madness and how Indiana State was unfairly left out, another competition is going on at the moment with the Naples City Council.

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The local election is highlighted by the matchup for mayor. My colleague Laura Layden also has been writing about council seats in play. On Marco Island, a pair of charter amendments are on the ballot.

The Presidential Preference Primary is also part of today's festivities, but only Republicans are scheduled to vote in that, according to the Collier elections office.

Folks registered as a Democrat or with a minor political party or with no affiliation at all don't get to play this time around in the race for president. Based on Florida's ballot certification, the only Democrat running is the incumbent Joe Biden. The Nov. 5 general election will give everyone a chance to choose the nation's top dog.

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As for Republicans, several candidates have suspended their campaigns but didn't submit a formal withdrawal by mid-December, meaning they remain on today's ballot. Along with former President Trump, others still listed include Florida's Ron DeSantis and former governors Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Chris Christie of New Jersey. Only DeSantis among those candidates has endorsed Trump, who also has not received the backing of his former Vice President Mike Pence.

And yes, polls close at 7 p.m. However, elections officials said those already in line before that time ― if there is a line ― will be able to cast their ballot.

Just make sure you're in the right place.

Residents must vote in their assigned precinct, which can be found on your voter information card, on the Collier elections site, or by calling the agency at (239) 252-8683.

Keep checking back today for more updates.

Staff members Laura Layden and J. Kyle Foster contributed to this blog. Based at the Naples Daily News, In the Know columnist Phil Fernandez ([email protected]) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. Support Democracy. Subscribe to a newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida primary 2024: Naples, Collier County live updates