Clean Water and Coastal Protection
Support Advanced Wastewater Treatment, improve stormwater management, protect beaches and waterways, preserve wildlife habitat, and invest in long-term coastal resiliency.
Marco Island City Council
Chris Ricci for Marco Island City Council
Protecting what makes Marco Island special through clean water, responsible growth, fiscal discipline, and resident-first leadership.
Every major decision starts with one question: how does this affect the residents of Marco Island?
Listen first.
Respect residents, advisory committees, and the facts on the ground.
Plan ahead.
Fix infrastructure before delays make projects more expensive.
Protect the island.
Keep water quality, beaches, neighborhoods, and wildlife at the center.
Why Chris
Experienced leadership for a turning point.
Marco Island faces decisions over the next decade that will shape our infrastructure, water quality, growth, finances, and quality of life. Chris Ricci is running because those decisions deserve thoughtful planning, environmental stewardship, and steady long-term judgment.
Chris brings executive leadership experience, financial oversight, environmental advocacy, and direct service in city government. As Chairman of the Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee and a member of the Audit Advisory Committee, he has seen both the opportunities and the challenges facing Marco Island up close.
His approach is practical: gather the facts, review the data, listen to stakeholders, understand the tradeoffs, and make decisions based on long-term community benefit.
Protecting What Makes Marco Island Special
Safe. Beautiful. Financially sound. Built for the residents who call it home.
Marco Island is more than budgets and ordinances. It is neighbors helping neighbors after a storm, families on the beach, boaters at sunset, thriving local businesses, and the natural beauty that makes people fall in love with this island.
Priorities
A resident-first agenda for Marco Island.
Chris will focus on the work that protects daily quality of life while preparing the city for the future.
Responsible Growth
Manage redevelopment thoughtfully, protect neighborhood character, and make sure infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
Fiscal Responsibility
Maintain transparency, strong reserves, disciplined budgeting, and long-term financial planning before problems become emergencies.
Tourism and Community Balance
Support a strong tourism economy while protecting the neighborhood peace and quality of life residents value.
How Chris Decides
No slogans. Better decisions.
Start with residents
City government exists to serve the people who call Marco Island home: retirees, families, business owners, seasonal residents, and everyone invested in the island's future.
Use facts and data
Difficult tradeoffs require clear information, honest cost analysis, and transparent alternatives before decisions are made.
Think long term
The goal is simple: leave Marco Island stronger than we found it.
Key Issues
Clear positions on the decisions ahead.
Marco Island deserves leadership that is transparent about tradeoffs, costs, neighborhood impacts, and long-term consequences.
Infrastructure Referendum Bond
Public safety comes first. If engineers determine that critical infrastructure is unsafe, we need to fix it. Two of our bridges require major work, and unless that assessment is shown to be wrong, delaying repairs only increases risk and cost. The bond deserves careful scrutiny, but ignoring essential infrastructure is not a responsible option.
Tax Policy & Fiscal Sustainability
Taxpayers deserve responsible stewardship of their money. I support balanced budgets, strong financial reserves, and transparent decision-making. The City should carefully control spending, plan for the long term, and ensure that recurring expenses are supported by stable funding rather than short-term fixes.
Property Tax Referendum Shortfall
When budgets are tight, the City's priorities should be clear: public safety, infrastructure, and essential services come first. We should pursue efficiencies and other revenue opportunities before cutting services that residents depend on. Government must make tough choices, but those choices should be guided by necessity, not convenience.
Short-Term Rentals
Short-term rentals are an important part of Marco Island's tourism economy and many property owners rely on them. At the same time, residents have a right to enjoy the peace, safety, and character of their neighborhoods. I support reasonable regulations that address nuisance issues and protect quality of life while respecting private property rights. If state law provides greater local authority in the future, I would support thoughtful local oversight that balances the interests of residents, property owners, and visitors.
Pickleball & Neighborhood Impacts
Marco Island should continue to invest in recreational amenities that enhance our community and quality of life. At the same time, we must be mindful of impacts on nearby residents. When conflicts arise, I support using data, community input, and practical mitigation measures to find balanced solutions that allow residents to enjoy recreational opportunities while preserving neighborhood character.
Canal Water Quality Funding
I support investing in clean water. Healthy canals protect our environment, our property values, and our quality of life. The question is not whether we should improve water quality, but how to do it effectively and fairly. Funding decisions should be based on science, measurable results, and a reasonable allocation of costs among those who benefit.
Parking and Congestion
Parking and traffic challenges should be addressed with data, technology, and targeted improvements before pursuing costly expansion projects. We should make the best use of existing infrastructure, improve traffic flow where possible, and focus investments where they will have the greatest impact on residents and visitors.
Revenue Diversification
I believe the City should constantly look for smarter ways to fund projects and services. Grants, public-private partnerships, tourism-related revenues, user fees, and regional cost-sharing opportunities should all be explored before relying solely on property taxes. Good government means being innovative, resourceful, and willing to think outside the box when solving financial challenges.
Police and Public Safety
Marco Island residents expect and deserve excellent public safety services. I support maintaining the high level of service our community has come to expect. Any discussion about independent policing versus county-provided services should be based on objective analysis of response times, service quality, local control, and cost - not ideology. The goal is not a particular governance model; the goal is providing the best possible public safety for our residents.
The Choice
Vote for practical leadership that protects the island we love.
Chris Ricci is not running to advance an agenda or score political points. He is running to help ensure Marco Island remains safe, beautiful, financially sound, and an exceptional place to live for current and future residents.
Join the CampaignGet Involved
Ready to help protect Marco Island's future?
Email Chris to share your priorities, volunteer, request a yard sign, or learn how to support the campaign.