Blog

Last week, it became known that FL State Rep. Vanessa Oliver had filed a bill to transfer the utilities from Punta Gorda to Charlotte County, a bill that has been met with strong opposition labeling it as a hostile take-over and questioning what exactly is Rep. Oliver’s motivation behind it. Who is she really serving? […]

FL State Rep Vanessa Oliver. State Rep. Vanessa Oliver, who has found herself in the line of fire, has drafted legislation that would transfer potable water service for customers living outside the Punta Gorda city limits to Charlotte County Utilities, which causes some people to question her integrity and transparency. The initiative has raised significant

When evaluating politicians or high-level leaders, it’s easy to get swept up by charisma, confidence, or bold promises. Yet strong presentation does not always equal strong character. Learning how to recognize narcissistic personality characteristics can help you make more grounded, values-based decisions—whether at the ballot box or in the boardroom. One key trait to watch

On Monday, December 1, 2025, We the People Club kicked off the holiday season with guest speaker John Fleming, Candidate for Charlotte County Commissioner. In the invocation, Club President Karina Schmitt referenced the Danish Christian Existentialist philosopher Søren Kierkegaard’s perspectives on staying authentic, transparent, honest, and serving as taught as well in Scriptures – calling

Stay tuned for updates on the We the People Club December meeting. New on the agenda, starting in December: Meet local business owners, learn about their business, and what can legislative changes can help them serve our community, such as getting rid of red tape.

When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words A Reflection on Candidate Kim Amontree’s Refusal to Answer Voter Questions On November 3, 2025, Candidate for Charlotte County Commissioner Kim Amontree addressed members of the We the People Club, outlining her campaign vision for Charlotte County. It was an opportunity for her to connect directly with engaged citizens,

Yesterday, the candidate presenting at our forum received the remaining questions from the community. They now have five days to provide complete responses. It is crucial that candidates respond directly to each question in a clear Q&A format, rather than providing general statements or attempting to shift the narrative. Direct answers demonstrate transparency and honesty,

When the Narrative Becomes a Shield In every election cycle, we see political candidates step onto stages, take microphones at club meetings, or shake hands at town halls — eager to present their “story.” But too often, these moments reveal less about who they truly are and more about how carefully they’ve rehearsed a narrative

At the October We the People Club meeting, we briefly discussed the issue regarding parking restriction on Boca Grande. Many Charlotte County residents are very upset about the restrictions and have expressed extreme dissatisfaction with what many call “a ridiculous short parking time” and that “The beaches are public beaches. If they restrict our access

It’s election time, and the candidates are already out there promoting their campaign platform. We the People look forward to meeting the candidates and hear about what they stand for, what they believe in, what they seek to work on if/when elected. So, We the People invite candidates in our community to speak at our