After four months of tied votes, Marco Island City Council unanimously appointed a seventh councilor, a retired CEO and local philanthropist.
The March 17 vote to appoint Rene Champagne, a retired technical-institute chair and Vietnam veteran, came during a nearly 75-minute special meeting, more than an hour of which was devoted to debate about how to vote, whether to interview the four new candidates or ask others to step up. But Councilor Bonita Schwan interrupted the discussion by nominating Champagne, and within seconds the vote was unanimous, prompting applause from residents in the audience.
Before the vote, Acting Chair Erik Brechnitz noted they’d been at an impasse since November after more than two dozen candidates, repeated nominations and tie votes.
“Three counselors have felt that the other three counselors were intractable in their positions and vice versa,” Brechnitz said. “Also, three counselors felt the other three were being foolish and vice versa. The truth is, in my judgment, the entire Council looks foolish, and I suspect if the residents were given a choice and were polled, they would like to get rid of all of us.”
The repeated meetings prompted accusations of quid pro quo, collusion by voting blocs and repeated suggestions to resolve the deadlock by holding a special election, which the city attorney advised against. The city charter says Council must make the selection, but within 60 days, which they’d passed.
It was the fourth special meeting held solely to select the seventh councilor. The deadlock had continued during special meetings and twice monthly meetings that resulted in ties involving the same factions: Brechnitz, Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler versus councilors Darrin Palumbo, Deb Henry and Schwan.
The seat was vacated mid-term by Councilor Greg Folley, who was required to resign Nov. 5 after a failed bid for the State House District 81 seat. The election brought in four new councilors, including two who ousted incumbents — leaving Brechnitz and Palumbo as senior members. One ousted incumbent, Becky Irwin, was among the four who applied this time.
Others were Allyson Richards, founder of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry and former Parks & Recreation Board member who has served on numerous nonprofit and other committees; and Melissa Tschida, a nurse whose family operates Paradise Coast Restoration company.
Champagne’s application noted Council “experienced challenges” functioning as a team to benefit the community and said his leadership and teamwork skills would be a positive addition.
“The concept of ‘compromise’ to move the Council forward is missing, and I believe I can help develop the value of compromise among the councilors,” Champagne wrote.
After the vote, Brechnitz asked that Champagne be immediately sworn in so he could join Council’s 5:30 p.m. regular meeting.
Champagne serves on numerous boards and committees, including Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation, Marco Island Historical Society and Marco Island Academy, which he and his wife Tish donated $2.5 million toward its new building several years ago. The couple have lived on the island more than 15 years after he retired in 2007 after 22 years as the former chair and CEO of the now-defunct ITT Educational Services Inc., which had 130 ITT Tech campuses in 38 states.
“My corporate business experience as chairman and CEO of a large New York Stock Exchange-listed company and the many nonprofit boards I have served on has provided me with an understanding of how successful boards operate,” he wrote, noting he has the necessary skillsets to serve on Council.
He described himself as a fiscal conservative who favors sound financial budgeting, prioritizing and listening to community needs and “clearly communicating” the plans of Council and city manager to voters. As an Independent, he’s “unafraid of making decisions that are required.”
During the regular meeting, Council voted for a chair and vice chair — another vote that had repeatedly tied. Acting Chair Brechnitz, who had been vice chair, was nominated, along with Schwann, who is an attorney, and Palumbo.
Brechnitz won 4-3, with Schwann, Palumbo and Henry voting nay. For vice chair, Gray and Schwann were nominated and Gray won 5-2, with Henry and Schwann opposing. Council then took a break to rearrange their seats.
At his first meeting, Champagne got to work during a Parks Master Plan presentation, telling Council, staff and residents he’s been reviewing the strategic plan.
“This is the strategic plan adopted by the city. Allegedly residents, council members, all voted on this thing and approved it,” Champagne said. “It’s out of date, okay? It’s obsolete and until such time as we decide what we want to be 10 years from now, not just take a plan and pass it from 2019 to 2024 and then add 10 more years to it — the same words — that doesn’t work.”
“So, what we need to really do is spend some time prioritizing what it is as a city we wish to accomplish,” he added. “… I’m here. I’m going to keep bugging us until we decide to sit down and talk about these kind of things.”
