For many owners in Naples and across Collier County, the candidate statement is the only thing they will read about a person before voting. Few owners attend every board meeting, and fewer know every candidate personally. A single page often decides who gets elected.
That page is worth writing carefully.
Know which rules apply
In a
residential condominium, the process is set by Chapter 718. A candidate must give written notice of the intent to run at least 40 days before the election. A candidate information sheet may then be furnished at least 35 days before the election, to be sent out with the second election notice. The association distributes properly submitted sheets but is not responsible for their contents and may not edit them. There is also a size limit, so the sheet should be kept to the permitted length.
In a
homeowners' association, Chapter 720 does not create the same information-sheet process. An HOA may still ask for biographies, questionnaires, statements, or photographs under its governing documents or election procedures. When it does, the requested format, length, and deadline should be followed exactly.
One practical point applies to condominium candidates in particular: only five days separate the notice-of-intent deadline from the information-sheet deadline. The sheet is best drafted before the notice of intent is submitted. Owners who spend part of the year away from Naples should plan around that window well in advance.
What a strong statement covers
The most useful statements answer the questions voters actually have:
- Why do you want to serve? A sincere, specific reason is more persuasive than a general one.
- What experience or perspective would you bring? Finance, construction, insurance, communications, or long familiarity with the community can all be relevant.
- How do you see the board's role? The board governs; management manages. A candidate who understands that distinction is easier to trust.
- Will you serve the whole community? Voters want to know a candidate will consider every owner, not only one building, street, or group of friends.
- How do you prepare and make decisions? Reading the materials, completing the required education, and working through disagreements respectfully all signal readiness.
What to leave out
Promises one director cannot keep. A director is one member of a governing body. Pledges to cut fees, fire a vendor, or fix a long-running problem single-handedly describe authority that no individual director has. Voters who notice that may be put off.
Personal attacks and rumors. Statements built on criticism of other owners or current directors tend to reveal more about the candidate than intended.
Guarantees of specific results. Board decisions are made collectively at properly noticed meetings. Describing priorities is appropriate. Guaranteeing outcomes is not.
A simple structure
- One or two sentences on who you are and how long you have lived in the community.
- Why you are running now.
- The experience you would contribute.
- Two or three priorities, framed as issues you would work on with the board.
- A sentence on how you approach preparation and working with others.
Kept to that outline, most statements fit comfortably on a single page and are read all the way through.
Before you submit
Confirm the deadline and delivery method, and keep proof that the association received your submission. For condominium candidates, a notice is effective when it is received, not when it is mailed, so a written receipt is worth requesting for anything delivered in person.
Moore Property Management has guided Naples condominium and HOA boards through annual elections for decades. Owners considering a run for their board are encouraged to ask our team for their association's current election calendar and candidate instructions.
