Southwest Florida is more than a region on the map — it is our home (i.e. Charlotte, Lee, and Collier County.) It’s the place where we work, where we raise our children, where we worship, and where we build our businesses from the ground up with our own hands. And it’s because I love this place with all my heart that I have dedicated my time, energy, and voice to fight for you — the hard-working families, the small business owners, the pastors, the teachers, the fishermen, the community volunteers, and every resident who calls SWFL home.
This letter is my promise to you. A promise that I will never stop being an abrasive champion when it comes to protecting your interests. A promise that I will be bold, clear-eyed, and determined in standing up for the people and values that make SWFL special. I don’t care about political correctness or towing the line for special interests — I care about results. And I care about doing what’s right for our communities, even when it’s uncomfortable, unpopular, or inconvenient.
I believe in small businesses — not just because they’re vital to our local economy, but because I come from the same soil they do. I know what it means to RISK EVERYTHING on a dream. I know what it means to be homeless, I know what it means to be on top of the world. I know the long hours, the sleepless nights, the razor-thin margins, and the endless paperwork. I’ve seen it firsthand. And I know that small business owners don’t need handouts — they need a level playing field, FEWER REGULATIONS, and local officials who actually listen when they speak.
In too many cases, we have systems built to benefit massive corporations while local entrepreneurs are stuck in red tape. That’s not acceptable. That’s not free enterprise. That’s cronyism — and I won’t stand for it. Whether you run a mom-and-pop restaurant, a landscaping company, a bait shop, or a tech startup, I will be your advocate at every turn. I will fight to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, streamline licensing, cut fees, and give you the tools to thrive.
Small business owners are not just job creators — they are community builders. They sponsor the little league teams. They donate to local causes. They hire our neighbors. They are SWFL. And I will continue to be the loud, relentless voice that ensures their concerns are not only heard but prioritized.
Supporting Our Pastors and Faith Communities
Our local churches are the moral compass of our communities. They are places of hope, refuge, and redemption. In times of tragedy, we don’t just turn to politicians — we turn to our faith leaders. We turn to the Word. Our pastors baptize our children, marry our couples, bury our loved ones, and provide spiritual guidance every single day, asking little in return.
Yet increasingly, faith communities are under pressure — socially, legally, and financially. Whether it’s restrictive zoning laws, discriminatory policies, or an aggressive push to sideline religion from the public square, churches and pastors are finding it harder to do their work freely.
That’s not just an attack on religion — that’s an attack on community.
I will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our pastors. I will support their right to preach the truth as they see it, to operate their ministries without government intrusion, and to be recognized as the essential institutions they are. Whether it’s advocating for church property rights, resisting unfair restrictions, or simply being present and supportive, I am committed to the spiritual health of our communities.
Because strong churches build strong families, and strong families build strong communities.
WE NEED Government That Works — Not Government That Wastes
Let me be blunt: I believe in government that works — not government that talks in circles, wastes your tax dollars, or makes decisions behind closed doors. The people of SWFL deserve effective and efficient government — the kind that respects your wallet, your time, and your intelligence.
That means eliminating bloated budgets. That means demanding transparency from every office and agency. That means holding people accountable — even when it’s uncomfortable. And yes, it means being abrasive when necessary. Because the easy path — the path of silence and complacency — only leads to higher taxes, lower performance, and a government that forgets it works for the people.
You elected your leaders to serve you, not themselves. Every policy should be weighed not on how it sounds in a press release, but on whether it delivers real results for real people. I’ve pushed for performance audits, I’ve challenged unnecessary expenditures, and I will continue to do so.
It’s not enough to show up at ribbon cuttings and smile for the camera. Public service means work — hard, often thankless work — and I am ready and willing to do it, day in and day out, on your behalf.
Clean Water Is Not Optional — It’s Life Itself
If you’ve lived in Southwest Florida for any amount of time, you understand this one truth: clean water is everything. Our health, our economy, our property values, our tourism, our fishing industry, and our very way of life depend on clean, abundant water.
Red tide, blue-green algae, polluted runoff — these aren’t abstract environmental issues. These are our issues. They affect our children, our businesses, our wildlife, and our future. When our waterways are poisoned, everything we love about SWFL is put at risk.
I don’t believe clean water is a partisan issue. It’s a common sense issue. It’s a survival issue.
I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with residents demanding stronger water quality protections. I’ve spoken out against polluters, outdated infrastructure, and weak enforcement. I’ve demanded funding for real solutions — not cosmetic fixes or PR stunts. And I will continue to be a thorn in the side of any agency, official, or interest group that ignores or downplays this crisis.
We need better stormwater management. We need to stop agricultural and industrial pollution from fouling our rivers and estuaries. We need to strengthen water testing, invest in modern sewage systems, and restore our wetlands. This isn’t just an environmental concern — it’s a moral obligation to future generations.
Clean water affects every one of us in SWFL, regardless of where we live or how we vote. I promise to keep fighting like our future depends on it — because it does.
I’ve never been one to sit quietly in the corner. I don’t believe in half-measures or empty words. I believe in action. I believe in grit. And I believe in standing up for what’s right — even if it ruffles feathers.
This region has incredible potential. We have beautiful land, diverse communities, a rich cultural heritage, and people with unmatched work ethic and heart. But we also face real challenges — development pressures, infrastructure issues, rising costs, and a political system that too often forgets who it’s supposed to serve.
I won’t forget.
I won’t forget the family that can’t afford to insure their home. I won’t forget the fisherman whose catch is disappearing due to polluted waters. I won’t forget the pastor struggling to keep the doors open. I won’t forget the young entrepreneur trying to get a business off the ground in a sea of red tape.
You are why I fight. You are the reason I serve. And you are the reason I’ll keep showing up, even when it’s hard.
I will always speak plainly, act decisively, and lead courageously. I will challenge the status quo. I will break through the noise. And I will continue to be the voice that says the things others are too afraid to say.
Because leadership isn’t about popularity — it’s about principle. It’s about conviction. And it’s about never, ever giving up on the people who put their faith in you.
A Final Word
To every small business owner, every faith leader, every teacher, every parent, every student, and every hardworking neighbor in SWFL: I see you. I hear you. And I am with you.
I am not running from the tough fights — I am running toward them. With your support, your prayers, and your continued engagement, we can preserve what’s great about Southwest Florida and improve what needs fixing.
This region is worth every ounce of energy we can give. It’s worth protecting, defending, and championing — fiercely and unapologetically.
And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
God bless you, and may God bless the people of Southwest Florida.
Sincerely,
McKinley G. Williams
PUBLISHER, THE SWFL CHRONICLE
