In his seven years on the Bonita Springs City Council, it has been Ben's pleasure to work hard for his constituents in District Six -- he has been a strong voice for them, creating and supporting many important projects focused on enhancing the quality of life and safety of everyone in Bonita Springs.  Here are just a few examples of his commitment and accomplishments...   

AN ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY

- serves as the Cities representative on the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the last three years and is currently Vice Chairman.  Ben's role on the MPO has been that of an advocate for our community, making sure that residents of South Lee County and Bonita Springs are well represented and respected.  He has built strong relationships with representatives of other communities and state and local transportation officials.  He recently had the opportunity to represent the entire MPO in Tallahassee and serves on the Transit Authority.  

TRAFFIC RELIEF

- personally spearheaded Traffic relief projects.  The four way stops at Dean and Ragsdale, the stop light at Bonita Grande and I-75 at Bonita Beach Rd., the repaving of East Bonita Beach Road, along with the illumination of Bonita Grande and Terry Street.  Ben is now bringing attention to needed improvements in Lee and Collier County that will relieve traffic on Bonita Beach Road and also is promoting a new way to look at improvements...targeting specific areas of need, putting our tax dollars where they will do the most good.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION

- founded the Keep the Beautiful in Bonita program that started out as a volunteer community clean-up which continues to grow and build pride in our community and now includes the entire city.  His latest program will allow Code Enforcement to identify "Beautiful Bonita Homes" adding positive reinforcement to our beautification efforts.

Ben Paints his Heart Out with a

crew from Nelson Marine Construction

- Ben has fought hard to make sure that council fulfills the promise to its citizens that the new roads under construction will be well landscaped, and has championed the creation of the Tree Board and preservation ordinances.  This exciting program and its dedicated volunteers will enhance our neighborhood streets by offering trees to citizens who pledge to take care of them and create ordinances for the preservation and protection of this important resource.  Ben promoted the creation of an ordinance that makes the preservation or transplanting of Sable Palms, our state tree, mandatory during development.  Ben also believes passionately in the preservation of upland habitat during development and the preservation of green space.  He was the Cities first representative on the CREW Land and Water Trust.  

 

SAFETY MEASURES

- he was the first councilman to recognize the importance and impact of sidewalks on a neighborhood and has worked hard on promoting them in our neighborhoods.  Ragsdale, Matheson and Pullen were first and the program has spread city-wide.  Because of the positive affect these improvements have had, this program remains a high priority for Ben.

- he was one of the first councilman to push for increased policing and has been an advocate for Community Policing since we became a City.  Ben maintains a strong and supportive relationship with the department, working with them to help make our City a safer community.    

VISION FOR A REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN

- Ben has always had a vision for our downtown area which included better more affective ordinances and enhanced code enforcement to combat overcrowding and blight and was instrumental in acquiring the property that is now our beautiful Riverside Park and Antaramian Project.  His support and vision for redevelopment of our downtown has been unswerving and he is optimistic that with strong leadership, our downtown will be revitalized and become a focal point of our City that we can all be proud of.  Downtown Bonita Springs, with parks, shopping and dining within walking distance of our historic revitalized neighborhoods.  Can you see it? 

Ben participates in Community

Policing Christmas Parade

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

- Ben and his wife Lori's love for their community is demonstrated by their continual involvement with projects such as personally donating and raising money for the new decorative fence for Bonita Springs Elementary as well as other projects that support this beautiful historic neighborhood school.  Ben, Lori, and their employees are always pitching in, whether it's sponsoring the Coastal Cleanup, pouring sidewalks for the Historic First United Methodist Church, painting houses for "Paint Your Heart Out" or picking up garbage at "Keep the Beautiful in Bonita."  Ben and Lori also helped spearhead the "Thanksgiving Thousand" meal program with the help of Flamingo Island Flea Market.  Ben is a proud sponsor of many local events including the Taste of Bonita, and the new Riverfest.  Whether at work or in his community... Ben believes in leading by example.