CITIZENS' BILL OF RIGHTS: What Every Marco Island Resident Has the Right to Expect from City Leadership
Rick Woodworth shares his Citizens’ Bill of Rights for Marco Island residents and his commitment to accountable government, responsible spending, clean waterways, and protecting residents’ quality of life.
Rick Woodworth
10/19/20264 min read
I believe Marco Island belongs to its residents, full-time, seasonal, and part-time alike. City government exists to serve the people who live here, not the other way around. I am running for Marco Island City Council to protect your quality of life and ensure that your government respects your needs, your tax dollars, and your trust.
To me, the following rights are not aspirations. They are the minimum standard every Marco Island resident should demand, and every elected official should be held to. These are the standards I will work to uphold as your councilmember.
I The Right to Open, Honest, and Accountable Government
You have the right to a City Council and city staff that conduct public business openly, respectfully, and efficiently. Financial reports and key performance metrics must be published regularly and made easily accessible, not buried in agendas or available only to those who know where to look. Major contracts must go to competitive bidding. Public funds must be stewarded with discipline. You have the right to know how your money is being spent, and to hold your elected officials accountable when it isn't.
II The Right to Fiscally Responsible Government That Lives Within Its Means
You have the right to a city that meets its financial obligations without continuously asking residents to pay more. Capital projects must be prioritized by urgency, return on investment, and genuine contribution to quality of life, not by political convenience. The City Charter spending cap must be respected and enforced, not reinterpreted around. Wasteful and duplicative spending must be identified and eliminated before any tax increase is considered. You have the right to a sustainable financial plan that protects taxpayers while maintaining the services you depend on.
III The Right to Infrastructure That Is Maintained, Not Neglected Until It Fails
You have the right to roads, bridges, sewer systems, swales, bike paths, parks, and canals that are maintained proactively, before they deteriorate, not after. The City must adopt and follow a comprehensive asset management policy with honest long-term planning. Major engineering studies, cost estimates, and capital proposals must be subject to independent verification and peer review before Council acts on them. You have the right to infrastructure decisions based on facts, not assumptions.
IV The Right to a Clean Environment and Protected Natural Assets
You have the right to clean canals, healthy marine ecosystems, and responsible stewardship of the natural environment that defines Marco Island. The City must support Advanced Wastewater Treatment, enforce landscaping ordinances that protect water quality, and pursue science-based solutions to nutrient impairment. Wildlife, including sea turtles, owls, and native species, deserves active protection. Environmental policy must be practical and grounded in evidence. You have the right to an island that remains as beautiful for future generations as it is today.
V The Right to Managed Growth That Preserves the Character of This Island
You have the right to live on an island that remains both family-friendly and retirement-friendly, a community with a small-town character, quiet neighborhoods, and a sense of place that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Growth and density must be managed so they do not outpace infrastructure, overwhelm public services, or compromise what makes Marco Island exceptional. Property rights matter, and so does every resident's right to the peaceful enjoyment of their home. You have the right to a city that puts existing residents first.
VI The Right to Fair and Consistent Enforcement of Laws and Ordinances
You have the right to laws and ordinances that are enforced evenly, respectfully, and without favoritism, applied consistently across residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Selective enforcement erodes trust. Inconsistent enforcement invites abuse. You have the right to a city where the rules mean something, where professionalism is the standard, and where code enforcement earns respect rather than resentment.
VII The Right to a Fair Share of County and State Tax Dollars
You have the right to a City Council that advocates vigorously on your behalf at the county and state level. Marco Island residents and visitors contribute significantly to Collier County and Florida state tax revenues. The city must work actively to recover a fair share of those dollars for local infrastructure, services, and environmental programs. The residential-commercial tax imbalance must be addressed. Additional funding sources and partnerships must be pursued so that residents are not the sole underwriters of city operations.
VIII The Right to Ethical Leadership and Civil Public Discourse
You have the right to elected officials who lead with integrity, treat residents with respect, and conduct themselves with civility, in Council chambers, in public forums, and in the community. Fear-based messaging, personal attacks, and divisive rhetoric have no place in local government. You have the right to leadership that lowers the temperature, raises the standard, and restores confidence that your city is in capable, honest hands.
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU
I bring more than 50 years of hands-on experience in real estate development, high-rise residential management, corporate finance, and complex capital decisions. I know how to read a balance sheet, challenge a cost estimate, and hold professional staff accountable. I will bring that experience to City Council to help protect your tax dollars and ensure that major decisions stand up to careful scrutiny.
As a Waterways Advisory Committee member and Chairman, I have spent years fighting for clean canals, transparent governance, and real enforcement of ordinances that protect residents. My commitment to this community is grounded in years of doing the work and asking the hard questions.
I am not beholden to special interests, and I am not running for status. I am running because Marco Island is my home, and I want to protect the quality of life we all cherish. I will listen to residents, exercise independent judgment, and put your interests first.
I ask for your vote for Marco Island City Council so I can put my experience to work for you and defend and protect this Citizens' Bill of Rights.
Marco is home. Let's protect our future.
- Rick
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Phone
239-300-5442
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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Rick Woodworth, 2026 candidate for Marco Island City Council