Coletta

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NAPLES — Republicans in eastern and southern Collier County selected incumbent commissioner Jim Coletta by a margin of nearly 2 to 1.

Coletta will now face Democrat Russel Kish in the Nov. 4 general election.

With 100 percent of the votes unofficially reported by Supervisor of Elections Jennifer Edwards, Coletta received 2,193 votes, or 65.54 percent, compared to challenger Roberto “Bob” Alonso, who received 1,153 votes or 34.46 percent.

“Oh my god,” Coletta said, when first told of the voting trend. “Oh my god.”

“I’m so relieved that I got that voter confidence. Mr. Alonso put on a great campaign. He brought together a large element. I give him a lot of credit,” Coletta said. “I’m going to work very hard to win over (those who voted for Alonso) and I want, very much, to bring Mr. Alonso more into (the fold.) Get him involved in advisory boards and committees.”

Alonso could not be reached for comment.

More than 13,800 Republicans were eligible to vote in the primary. There are 32,850 total registered voters in the District 5, which cuts a wide swath from Everglades City through Golden Gate Estates to Immokalee.

Alonso, 46, is 20-year law enforcement officer who has been an investigator with the Collier County Sheriff’s Criminal Intelligence Bureau for the past two years. He campaigned for more fiscal accountability from the commission, better representation for Golden Gate Estates, and a solution for numerous foreclosures in his neighborhood.

Seeking his third term in office, Coletta is the former business owner of a meat plant, newspaper and equipment retail store.

He campaigned on his eight-year record as an advocate for the underprivileged, better roads, improved drainage and sensible flood insurance maps.

There are, technically, 13 voting precincts in District 5, which are divided among 10 locations.