4E Fort Myers News-Press, Sunday September 5, 1976 Sweeney Facing Tough Battle i Ik. i suyxi i tion has been hampered by his health which has been poor. Sweeney also has run into criticism on the campaign trail for hs fequent flip-flopping and vote-changing on issues facing the commission. He is the swing vote on the board, aligned in faction of two and two. Sweeney is seeking reelection "even though in years gone by I've enjoyed it more than I do now." The biggest issue Sweeney is making in his campaign are two fellow Republican incumbents Dick Sayers and George Goldtrap.
"The biggest issue of this campaign is that it all boils down to personalities," Sweeney says. He believes Goldtrap and Sayers also seeking reelection are opposed to everything that might help the county." Sweeney says he will continue to oppose Robert Troutman's Fort Myers Beach development, as he has in the past by voting against Trout-man twice. Sweeney also favors the use of federal funds for county projects. Sweeney was an electrician before entering politics. Prior to moving to Florida he worked in a tax assessor's office in the north.
George Goldtrap, of 4532 E. Riverside Drive, East Fort Myers, wants another four-year term. Gold-trap, a preacher, lists his qualifications for office as a college education, experience in county government, a knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and his personal standards. and 1968 so he sat out the 1972 contest.
Roberts has revived his stillborn political career this year with passion and is reminding voters that he challenged the Democrats when no one else would. Roberts thinks Lee County needs more roads, and that Fort Myers Beach should have another bridge to the mainland. He says he's supported land use planning and a coun-tywide park system since his first campaign 12 years ago. Roberts is an advertising executive and has a real estate company on the beach. He was a charter member of the Lee County Conservation Association Inc.
He's made speeches throughout Florida urging the protection of wetlands. Roberts favors federal revenue sharing and believes the funds should be used to build roads, sewers, improve and preserve drinking water supplies and build roads and bridges. "We need to cut the fat out of the wasteful and inefficient things in oounty government," Roberts says. "We need to look at our county funded agencies to make sure they are doing their jobs efficiently." James Sweeney, of 226 Connecticut Fort Myers Beach, has been a commissioner since 1970 when former Gov. Claude Kirk appointed him to the post.
Sweeney, of 226 Connecticut Fort Myers Beach, is the senior man on the five-person commission. Sweeney's campaign for reelec From Page 3E Foster favors federal revenue sharing but is opposed to the guidelines the federal government issues governing the expenditures of federal funds. He believes current enviromental laws are strong enough to protect sensitive lands. Foster, a former chairman of the state land conservation commission, ran for governor in 1964 as a Republican. He also was a candidate for the state public service commission in 1962.
Foster served on the now-defunct Lee County Board of School Trustees His chief goal, if elected, is to "restore integrity to the county commission." Foster said county government under the present five-member commission has been wracked by too much bickering "We need to do away with all that arguing we've had up there," he says. Foster, a graduate of Wake Forest University, favors improved roads and planning to protect drinking water supplies. Foster says he has an open ind on developer Robert Troutman's proposed Estero Bay project. He says commissioners should lay down guidelines for Troutman and issue a firm "yes or no answer." Roland Q. Roberts, of 675 Randy' Lane, Fort Myers Beach, has had his eye and hopes set on becoming a county commissioner since 1964.
But the Republican stalwart couldn't win in Democratic Lee County in 1964 School Board Member Will Be Democrat JAMES SWEENEY JR. Goldtrap is opposed to county use of federal funds and has fought the state's financial disclosure law. Goldtrap says he helped reduce the tax millage while in office and increase the services needed for the public. "We have the greatest road building program that this county has ever undertaken," Goldtrap says. "There are more parks in progress, we have several new bridges." Goldtrap says an overriding theme in his 1976 campaign isn't personality, but a philosophy of government.
Goldtrap believes government should "do as little meddling as possible into the lives of Lee County citizens." And that philosophy has led to his opposition of land use plan- JIM W. SHINN f' -J cbm SuLJ Lxvfb Primary '76 School Board $5,791 -4 Years JERRY SMART since Goldtrap entered off ice. Smart favors land use planning and says he is opposed to Robert Troutman's Estero Bay development. Smart has received heavy backing from the business community. He favors the use of federal funds to supplement the county budget, but he believes local officials should carefully evaluate the strings attached to monies from Washington.
Smart says he will lean on advisory committees for aid in reaching decisions at the courthouse. Smart says one of the main benefits he can offer county government is a 20-year background in business and finance two decades of experience. South Central Florida Health Systems Council, and many other citizen participation groups. Jim Shinn, of 1306 Coconut Fort Myers, is a maintenance supervisor employed by the school board for the past two years. He retired from the life insurance business in 1974, where he was an agent affiliated with the Liberty National Life and the Independent Co.
Shinn says his job as a school board employe has taught him about the needs of the educational system. Shinn's chief platform plank is his strong belief that the school system should be de-politicized and stripped of partisan, party politics. He feels school board members should be elected on a non-partisan basis. Shinn attended Arkansas Tech, and he wants teachers to return to the basis of educating youngsters. He says reading, writing and arithmetic should be the only courses taught to children in the first, second and third grades.
Richard Winesett, of 1574 Passaic Fort Myers, is an attorney and former Fort Myers High School teacher. Winesett's wife, Sherra, is also an attorney and ex-teacher. The couple attended the University of Florida law school on Winesett's earnings as a beekeeper. Winesett's main platform proposal is the creation of an alternative school a school-within-a-school to hold classes for disruptive students. Winesett's proprosal would separate classroom troublemakers from the student body and place them in the alternative school for special classes.
He says the concept will bring better discipline to normal classrooms, while guaranteeing an education for student with discipline problems. Winesett also favors compliance with state and federal regulations eliminating sex discrimination in school activities and collective bargaining rights for teachers. Winesett said a top priority if he is elected will be the hiring of an efficiency expert to study school system procedures. 88. Lee Middle School, Gymnasium, Ballard Rd.
89. Flre Station No. 3, Jefferson Ave. Kelly St. 90.
McGregor Baptist Church, Davis and McGregor. 91. Ft. Myers Baptist temple, 5770 Winkler Rd. 92.
Polnsettla Park, Recreation Ballard Rd. 93. Area Vocational Technical School, 3800 Michigan Ave. 94. Mark Mark I Condominiums, 3901 Del Prado Pkwy, Cape Coral.
95. Cape Coral, Phil Splcer Residence, 5209 York Cape Coral. 96. Cape Coral, Cleo Snead Residence, 526 Coral Cape Coral. 97.
Cape Coral, Paul Gunderman Residence, 101 E. Dorado Cape Coral. 98. Cape Coral, Epiphany Episcopal Church, 2507 Del Prado, Cape Coral. Cop Coral, Fire Hall of the City Hall, Country Club Blvd.
Nicholas Pkwy. 100. Cape Coral, O.S. Van Beverhoudt Residence, 411 W. Eldorado Pkwy.
Cape Coral. 101. American Legion, American Legion Post No. 323, Homestead Lehigh (front door) 102. Lehigh Acres, American Legion Post No.
323, Homestead Lehigh (side door) 103. Faith Lutheran Church, E. Leeland Heights and 8th Ave. GEORGE GOLDTRAP ning, zoning and regulations by county agencies. Goldtrap is the preacher with an East Fort Myers congregation.
He also was a weathercaster for WINK-TV and WBBH-TV. G.G. "Jerry" Smart of Buckingham is a businessman and gentleman farmer. Smart has attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University in Detroit. He is a Kiwanian and has a background in accounting and the construction industry.
Smart has launched a campaign to oust Goldtrap, who Smart says is "against everything. Smart is saying taxes have climbed in Lee County during the past four years, despite the millage cutbacks. He says taxes on his own property have risen $200 RICHARD A. WINESETT for 17 years before purchasing the Western Auto store in Fort Myers in 1944. In 1949 he started a chain of five drugstores, which he owned until 1966.
Dr. Joseph Isley, of 5418 McGregor is a physician specializing in radiology and nuclear medicine. In 1974 Isley was a candidate for the state legislature, but quit the race before the elction. Isley is a member of the Lee County Democratic Executive Committee. Isley's chief issues are "good three R's education" for students and a reduction in the number of high school students who graduate as functionally illiterate.
Isley also wants a wide range of vocational courses taught in the public schools. He also thinks the school board should institute a review of its finance policies. Isley has been a Lee County resident for the past 18 years, and is a graduate of Wake Forest, the University of North Carolina and Duke. He served in the Navy and the Air Force reserve. Isley has four sons, and three are graduates of the Lee County public schools; one son attends middle school.
The candidate serves on the 72. Tlce Lions Club, Florence Tlce. 73. Cypress Lake Gardens, Recreation off Cypress Lake Drive. 74.
Southside Baptist Church, 230 Cypress Lake Dr. 75. Ft. Myers Shores, Recreation Fifth Davis. 76.
Shady Rest, Shady Rest Nursing Home, Chapel N. Airport Rd. 77. Church of Christ, Foyer, McGregor Blvd. at Jefferson.
78. First Church of the Nazarene, Broaday at Braman. 79. Pine Manor, Knights of Columbus Hall, 1901 Park Meadows Dr. 80.
Community Building, U.S. 41, Bonita Springs. 81. Ft. Myers Beach, Beach Fire Hall, 3043 Estero Blvd.
82. Batlkl West, Batlkl West Condominium, 1511 Estero Ft. Myers Beach. 83. Shell Point Village, Social Center foyer.
84. Peppertree Point, Main Recreation lona Rd. 85. Villas, First Federal Savings Loan Community Room, 1901 College Pky. 86.
Coach Light Manor Recreation Hall, Coachllght Dr. Village Sq. 87. Orange Harbor, Orange Har- bor Mobile Home Park, Recreation Palm Beach Blvd. JOSEPH K.
ISLEY services a subdivision will require such as new schools for the new residents. Shinn calls for a thorough search for school funding "overlooking no possibility, no matter how small." He is the least specific of the candidates on the funding issue. Winesett says, "The only funding remedies for increased costs are higher legislative appropriations or increased millage. The former is more equitable since state taxes are more closely related to real economic activity." A brief background on each candidate's personal history and platform is as follows: Cecil Bennett, of 2912 Valencia Way, Fort Myers, is a retired drugstore owner who served on the now-defunct Lee County school Newest Lee County's newest school board member will be a Democrat. That's because no Republicans, Independents or third party candidates sought the job.
And their absence from the political scene in the Dist. 4 school board race means that 40,000 Lee County voters haven't any voice in the matter. Only the Democrats and 46,000 are registered are eligible to vote in the Dist. 4 contest next Tuesday. There are four candidates in the race, Cecil L.
Bennett, 68, a retired businessman; Dr. Joseph K. Isley, 51, a Fort Myers physician; Jim Shinn, 58, a maintenance supervisor for the school system, and Richard W. Winesett, 33, an attorney and former teacher. The Dist.
4 post is now held by Dr. Robert Anderson, retiring school board chairman who is leaving to become a missionary in Africa. The Democrats now hold a 4-1 majority on the board, a majority that won't be threatened by the outcome of Tuesday's balloting. The school board salary is $5,791 per year, nd the victor gets a four-year term. The school board has the authority to levy taxes on property in Lee County.
The agency has a $53 million budget, enrolls about 28,000 students and operates 39 schools. As the employer of 4,600 persons, the school board issues more paychecks md has more workers than any Aher business in Lee County. Although the school board election is a Democratonly affair, three of the candidates believe the post should be non-partisan, according to a League of Women Voters campaign fact sheet. The League quotes Bennett as saying that school board members should be elected on a non-partisan basis. Isley is reported as saying he wouldn't object to non-partisan elc-tions.
Shinn told the League "there should be absolutely no politics in our school system" and he endorsed non-partisan elections. Winesett, however, thinks party labels are meaningful to voters on the local level. 1. Alva, Alva Community Alva. 2.
Olga, Oloa Community Olga. 3. Buckingham, Buckingham Community Buckingham Mobile Manor Community Bayshore N. Ft. Myers.
5. New Prospect, Civic League Plnev N. Ft. Myers. 6.
Tlce, Tlce Community Hall, Royal Palm Park Tlce. 7. East Ft. Myers, Edgewood Methodist Fellowship Hall, Seminole at Freemont St. 8.
Legion Home, American Legion 2589 First St. 9. Courthouse, Lee County Courthouse Lobby, 2115 Second St. 10. Church Ot Christ, 3825 McGregor Blvd.
11. Cypress Lake, United Methodist Church, 3530 Cypress Lake Drive. 12. Estero, Koreshan Park Art U.S. 41, South.
13. Bonita Springs, Bonita Springs Community Bldg. U.S. 41 at Reynolds. 14.
St. James City, Civic Association 4th St. James City. 15. Pineland, Rev.
Curry Walton's Garage, Roberts Pineland. 16. Sanlbel, Sanibel Community Bldg. 17. Captlva, Captlva Community Bldg.
18. Boca Grande, Boca Grande Community Bldg. 19. Early Childhood Academy, Corner Hoople Broadway. Let CECIL L.
BENNETT "General philosophies of our national parties are as relevant to the school board as to other legislative and executive offices," Winesett told the League of Women Voters. "Identification as a Democrat shows an approach to problems which has meaning to voters in school board elections. However, no responsible officeholder allows party affiliation to overcome his independent judgment." Bennett, whose name is first on the ballot, has picked up the endorsem*nt of the teachers union (Teachers Association of Lee County), TALC. A prime reason behind the endorsem*nt is Bennett's belief that teacher salaries should be tied to the national cost-of-living index. Other differences between the four candidates include opinions about taxation.
Bennett says an increasing tax base in Lee County as more land is developed adds funds for the school system. Isley believes education costs should be met by increased state and federal funding for schools. He also favors charging developers an impact fee an advance payment to government to purchase the 20. Central Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, Edison Grand. 21.
Bokeelia, Pink Citrus Mobile Home Park, Recreation String-fellow. 22. Ft. Myers Beach, American Legion Buttonwood Ft. Myers Beach.
23. Indian Creek Park, 2121 San Carlos Blvd. Recreation Ft. Myers Beach. 24.
Pine Island Bridge, Matlacha Community Bldg. 25. Dunbar Middle School, Dunbar Middle School, E. Edison Ave. 26.
Lehigh Acres, Elementary School, Richmond Blvd. 27. Ft. Myers High School, Lobby, Senior High Cortez Blvd. 28.
Tanglewood, McGregor Baptist Church, McGregor at David. 29. Teen Club, Cape Coral Teen Club, next to Yacht and Racquet Club. 30. Tropic Isles, Gymnasium, N.
Ft. Myers High School. 31. Ft. Myers Villas, Community Sunrise Blvd.
32. Ft. Myers Middle School, Choral Central Ave. 33. Page Park, Page Park Community Center Road.
34. San Carlos Park, San Carlos Park Community Bidg. 35. Cape Coral, Cape Coral Fire Hall, Chester Ave. 36.
Trend Apartments, Recreation Room, 4100 Edgewood. 37. Windmill Village, Windmill Village Community Bldg. 38. N.
Ft. Myers Fire Hall, Fire Lee Polling Places- board of trustees from 1952 until 1956. Bennett's main campaign themes have been the cost-of-living salary increases for teachers, and the restoration of discipline in classrooms. Bennett also believes schools should be used after class hours for community purposes. Bennett is a critic of the school board's decision to build a new multi-million dollar administration complex in downtown Fort Myers.
Bennett said the building costs should have been earmarked for new classrooms and teaching equipment. Bennett has lived in Fort Myers since 1944. He is married, and his daughter, Sue Bennett Grimes, is a teacher at Orangewood Elementary. Bennett worked for the S.H. Kress 56.
Cape Coral, Annex Golfd Country Club, Palm Tree Blvd. 57. Cape Coral, VFW Post No. 8463, 4709 S.E. 11th Ct.
58 Cape Coral, 3028 Del Prado, rear of J.C. Thomas Realtor (on the north). 59. Lehigh Acres, Youth off Joel Blvd. 60.
Carriage Village, Recreation Center, 711 Bayshore N. Ft. Myers. 61. Bonita Springs, Fire Hall No.
2, Beach and Mango Dr. 62. United Methodist Church, Pondella Rd. at River N. Ft.
Myers. 63. Tropic Isles Elementary School, Orange Grove N. Ft. Myers.
64. Waterway Estates, Lutheran Church of Good Shepherd, 477Q Orange Grove N. Ft. Myers. 65.
Buccaneer Mobile Home Park, Recreation 2215 Tamlami N. Ft. Myers. 66. Faith Assembly of God, Bayshore Rd.
East side of N. Ft. Myers. 67. River Trails, Recreation Slater Rd.
N. Ft. Myers. 68. Suncoast, Suncoast Baptist Church, Laurel Lane, N.E., N.
Ft. Myers. 69. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Bled. 70.
Lions Club, N. Ft. Myers Lions Club, Pine Island N. Ft. Myers.
71. Southside Christian Church, 1551 College Parkway. Station, behind Flagship Bank, N. Ft. Myers.
39. 'Jpriver Campground, Uprlver Campground Recreation off Bayshore N. Ft. Myers. 40.
Terry Park, Agriculture Bldg. 41. Seminole Gardens, Recreation Van Buren and Edgewood. 42. Clemente Park, Clemente Park, Henderson Ave.
off Anderson. 43. Dunbar Recreation Center, 2990 Edison Ave. 44. Tlce Elementary School, Tlce Tlce.
45. Orange River Elementary School, Underwood and Queens Dr. 46. Allen Park Elementary School, Canelo Dr. 47.
Wesley Memorial Church, Wesley Memorial Church, northwest side, on DeLeon St. 48. Presbyterian Apartments, Presbyterian Apts, lobby, 1925 Virginia Ave. 49. Ft.
Myers Beach, Catholic Church ot Ascension, Estero Ft. Myers Beach. 50. Lehigh Acres, Lehigh Acres Fire Hall, Homestead Rd. 51.
Disciples of Christ Church, McGregor at San Mateo. 52. Lehigh Acres, Community Homestead Rd. 53. First Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, Alexander Graham Bell Lehigh Acres.
54. Cape Coral, Four Freedoms Park, Cape Coral. 55. Skyline Bible Church, Skyline Blvd. 43 Cape Coral.
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