Brad Henson's Endorsement of Rick Woodworth: Marco Island Needs a New Course
Brad Henson
10/13/20263 min read
Marco Island has serious problems, and pretending otherwise will not solve them.
Our infrastructure is aging. Development pressure continues. Collier County growth affects our roads without paying City impact fees. Tallahassee continues to take away local control. Marco Island generates millions in tourism-related revenue for the County while residents understandably question whether we receive our fair share in return.
And a $23 million transportation bond just passed by one vote, 2,259 to 2,258. (WGCU News)
That is not a mandate.
It is a warning.
Marco Island has a trust problem.
I have spent much of my professional life in government. I have served as a state judge, county prosecutor, municipal solicitor and land-use attorney. I represented municipalities, planning boards and zoning boards throughout South Jersey, including shore and barrier-island communities.
The issues were remarkably similar to those confronting Marco Island today.
And I learned something important:
Small communities have to be willing to fight for themselves.
You cooperate with the County and State when cooperation makes sense. But when their decisions hurt your residents, you push back. You make the factual case. You make the legal case. You make the political case.
You do not simply shrug and say, “That’s how it works.”
In my view, we have seen zero meaningful fight from the current Council majority against the continuing erosion of local control.
That needs to change.
The same is true inside City Hall.
Our Charter is not optional.
Our Comprehensive Plan is not a suggestion.
Our Land Development Code is not something to work around when it becomes inconvenient.
Discretion has a place in government. But the rules must control the discretion, not the discretion control the rules.
And when it comes to money, the first question should not be:
How much more can we borrow or tax?
Start with every dollar we already spend.
What is necessary?
What can be reduced?
What can wait?
What can be eliminated?
What grants are available?
What should the County be paying?
What should the State be paying?
What other lawful revenue sources have we failed to pursue?
Only after answering those questions should anyone ask Marco taxpayers for more.
QUALITY OF LIFE
There is also a very simple principle that I think almost everyone on Marco Island can agree upon.
We want good neighbors.
We want good businesses.
We want good visitors.
We need all three.
But we should never allow the conduct of bad neighbors, bad businesses or bad visitors to destroy everyone else’s quality of life.
Residents have a right to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes and neighborhoods.
That is not anti-business.
That is not anti-tourism.
That is common sense.
WHY RICK, DENNIS AND TERI?
Because this Council job requires something that is often overlooked:
Time.
The agenda packets, budgets, land-use applications, contracts, infrastructure issues, County matters and State legislation can easily make serving properly on Council a full-time responsibility.
Rick Woodworth, Dennis Bartolucci and Teri Sommerfeld are all retired from their primary careers. Dennis is a retired CPA and former PwC partner. Teri is a retired healthcare executive. Rick brings more than 50 years of business and financial experience and says he has no Marco Island business interests, development projects, contractor relationships or City-related clients. (Dennis Bartolucci for City Council)
That matters to me.
Their primary careers are behind them. They have the opportunity to devote the time and attention this job deserves without trying to run a full-time business or career at the same time.
Rick Woodworth brings infrastructure, real-estate, financial and organizational-management experience. (Rick Woodworth for City Council)
Dennis Bartolucci brings 32 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, financial discipline, benchmarking and a Master of Public Administration. (Dennis Bartolucci for City Council)
Teri Sommerfeld brings more than four decades of executive management, multimillion-dollar budgets, regulatory compliance and operational accountability. (Teri Sommerfeld for Council 2026)
Three accomplished people.
Three different skill sets.
Three candidates with the time to do the work.
And, most importantly, I believe they have the independence and courage to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions and stand up for Marco Island when the County or Tallahassee needs to hear no.
I believe Marco Island would be very fortunate to have all three serving on City Council.
I support Rick Woodworth, Dennis Bartolucci and Teri Sommerfeld.
We have three votes.
Use all three.
Not one, not two, but all three.
Brad Henson
*Disclaimer: I am not licensed to practice law in Florida.
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239-300-5442
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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Rick Woodworth, 2026 candidate for Marco Island City Council