Bill McDaniel is a Republican running for District 5 commission seat. He feels his extensive business background and experience is exactly what the county commission needs to help create the county everybody wants. For 34 years he has called Collier County home for his family and business life. His business knowledge extends back to1987 when he started a successful real estate business, The Realty Company. Thousands of zoning, land development and other processes provided him with a thorough foundation in some of the county’s main procedures that pertain to the economy and growth. He is also the owner of the Big Island Excavating, Inc. and of Lazy Springs family outdoor recreation. His business experience also includes starting the Marine National Bank in 1999. Bill has an extensive civic background. A 30-year Mason, he helped start the East Naples Kiwanis Club, is a board member for Goodwill of Southwest Florida, founder and president of Corkscrew Island Neighborhood Association and chairman of the Collier County Housing Authority. He sees himself as an “empowerer” of competent staff - allowing them to make difficult decisions. He said his management style is to put into place a proactive system to manage government functions. He is mindful that it is the job of the board of county commissioners to make policy - to function as the county’s “board of directors.” He believes the Board should demand transparency which forces accountability; citizens should demand transportation infrastructure and force accountability while seeking less government obstruction in the area of business, particularly zoning and permitting. He believes that Collier County should rely on “growth assessment, “not impact fees. Bill said he understands that you cannot completely divorce government decisions from human factors like politics and emotion, but you must always make decisions based on facts. Bill has always been an advocate for the community and always been “extremely involved in government processes.” He believes that Immokalee can be operated in an economically sustainable manner, starting by providing adequate infrastructure - and that means improving the Immokalee Airport, including access, and equipping it to accommodate FedEx, which could then support local businesses in their expansion. It would make the airport an asset for people. Of course, jobs are the bottom line for most people and he says he’s been a job creator for 30 years. Government, he points out, does not create jobs. Entrepreneurs create jobs and government provides infrastructure and a business-friendly environment. That’s where the county commissioners come in. Four items top District 5 commission seat candidate Bill McDaniel’s ideas for Collier County’s future: Term limits for county commissioners Cut costs and red tape for job-creating entrepreneurs Smarter spending, not more spending Lower taxes for families, businesses and retirees He said he’d like to be able to use the words “common sense” and “government” in same sentence again. Still he warns that it takes time to fix things. He would lead by example and would, perhaps, be notable for what he would not bring to the board - drama.