Each week through the Primary, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of words, about 100, for their response.

This week’s question: Should the stipend approved by Cape Coral City Council in addition to member salaries be retained, rescinded or modified?

District 3 candidates’ answers:

Chad Bruening

BrueningforCouncil.com

The stipend should be rescinded and never should have taken place. I have entered this race knowing the compensation, and the current council knew the compensation when they signed on for their tenure. I’m not in this race for the money — let the citizens decide if the council needs a raise. I’m in favor of taking the appropriate action to be sure this injustice can not happen again. Less oversight, more transparency.

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Derrick Donnell

DerrickDonnell.com

The stipend should be rescinded. In every conversation I have had with residents thus far, the stipend has been the centerpiece. My personal philosophy is that NO elected body that uses taxpayer dollars should have the authority to grant themselves ANY type of compensation. If a council sees a need for additional compensation, a committee of citizens should be involved where they thoroughly research the issue. That item is placed city council’s regular meeting agenda under new business whereby the committee shares its findings and recommendations. Council then moves the item forward to the ballot where our voters ultimately decide.

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Daniel J. Ludlow

Modified.

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Deborah Lee McCormick

McCormickforCapeCouncil.com

I feel the stipend should be rescinded. I also would like to see the city charter changed so that future councils could never do this again. In order for future council members to increase their salary a referendum should be made by a council member to put it on the ballot and for the voters of Cape Coral to decide if their salary should be increased. I will not take one penny of this stipend.