SANITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Politics in paradise, hard charging versus stepping away
Politics in paradise, hard charging versus stepping away
In the mania of the modern news cycle, outrage is around every corner. A varied social calendar of town hall meetings and marches, even campaign celebrations, isn’t necessarily hospitable or even relaxing. Nevertheless, Southwest Florida’s political leaders find ways to step away from the 24-hour cable channels, if only to preserve their health. Otherwise, what’s the point of living in paradise? And so a critic of Common Core standards finds her peace on the golf course. A Democratic leader goes boating on the Caloosahatchee. A Trump campaign volunteer grabs the Bible to teach Sunday school.
For Chris Quackenbush, last year brought good and bad news, politically. Yes, Republicans enjoyed success in November, yet the conservative activist lost a bid for the Lee County School Board. But politics remains only one part of life. So she enjoys regular doses of waterskiing and golf, fortunate enough to live on the Colonial Country Club course. “It’s very helpful,” she says, “to have a beautiful sunny sky. You can’t look at the clouds without thinking there is more to each day than we can see.
“We need to keep a sense of humor, and we need to have fellowship with people on all sides of the aisle.”
For Cathy Michiels, state committeewoman for the Democratic Party of Lee County, she may spend free time organizing Awake The State rallies or traveling for a Women’s March on Washington gathering in the nation’s capital, but she also must balance a real estate career and full-on involvement with her son and husband. Modern America has affected her values, however. "Every day with this [Trump] Administration, you hear more about what’s happening to the environment and the world,” she says. “How is it possible people are not paying attention?”
Doris Cortese sees things differently. The Cape Coral woman is president of the Lee Republican Women Federated, vice chair of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee. She has worked for Mitt Romney’s presidential run, for Donald Trump’s campaign, pleased that the candidate beat the odds to take the state’s electoral votes in a surprise victory. She’s also worked for such candidates as Florida Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. But Cortese remains involved in more apolitical causes such as the recently formed Empowering Women’s Achievements, a group helping underprivileged women with job skills and professional assistance. When she steps away from the fray, a library of books provides her with calm, while her congregation at Evangelical Presbyterian Church keeps her spirits high, she says. “The most important thing is faith,” she says. “Whatever happens with politics, God is always in control.”
These women each enjoy time with grandchildren and other commonalities, despite a cadre of political differences.
And all prove that even in a tumultuous and politically charged atmosphere, the good life can continue on Florida’s Gulf Coast.