Each week, in an effort to provide greater familiarity and communication between the seven Marathon City Council candidates and our readers, the Marathon Weekly has printed candidates’ answers to a series of questions in editions leading up to the 2025 election. Three seats on the council will be filled by the candidates with the highest vote totals, joining council members Kenny Matlock and Lynny Del Gaizo on the dais.
Early voting has begun, with Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4. For more information and polling locations, visit votemonroeflkeys.gov. This week, we asked all seven candidates to give their final message to Marathon’s voters. Responses are printed exactly as submitted, limited to 250 words.
What is your final message to Marathon voters ahead of election day?
ROBYN STILL
Three years ago, you trusted me to serve on Marathon’s City Council. I’m asking for your vote again because I’ve delivered real results.
My husband and I own our home here, run our business here, and raised one of our sons here. This community isn’t just where I serve; it’s where I’ve built my life alongside you.
My record speaks for itself. When residents demanded transparency, I took immediate action — starting Facebook Live updates during major city events. I fought for and secured our dedicated Public Information Officer and today our communications reach over 200,000 views, and we’ve brought back monthly workshops specifically to address your concerns.
I’ve fought hard to protect our neighborhoods. We dramatically strengthened vacation rental enforcement, collecting hundreds of thousands in fines. I helped implement visitor fees at Sombrero Beach and our boat ramps, so tourists pay their fair share.
For three consecutive years, we’ve met tax rollback — one of only five Florida municipalities to achieve this — while increasing services and maintaining strong financial reserves. That’s fiscal responsibility that works for residents.
I have 22 years of law enforcement experience, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Master’s degree. I’ve earned Florida League of Cities certification and graduated from Leadership Monroe County. I think education and experience matter. I’ve invested in education because serving you well matters.
I’m not a career politician — I’m your neighbor who shows up and gets things done. I understand your challenges because they’re mine too.
JEFF SMITH
City Council requires qualified individuals with the experience and knowledge to identify challenges, propose effective solutions, and work collaboratively to implement positive change. I bring legacy knowledge of how and why City policies were adopted and understand where unintended consequences must now be addressed. I have engaged community members with diverse expertise to gather input and develop action plans to guide our City through growth management, capital projects, and ongoing litigation.
During my tenure, I have led efforts to establish defined compensation and performance review processes for staff, refund excess building department fees, and challenge developments—such as vacation rentals, TBR transfers, and mixed-use projects—that conflict with our community’s established character. I have also worked with staff and fellow council members to strengthen communication with state and local governments, addressing legal issues, growth challenges, and strained relationships.
We have launched community workshops and public information initiatives to improve transparency and increase civic engagement. I have provided responsible fiscal oversight, enhancing services through alternative revenue sources without increasing property taxes.
I am proud of the substantial progress we’ve made over the past three years on key community issues and remain committed to completing ongoing initiatives. My actions on the Council reflect the skills, integrity, and dedication needed to serve effectively. I would be honored to continue representing our residents and respectfully ask for your vote for re-election.
DEBBIE STRUYF
I’m running for City Council to bring more transparency and accountability to our local government. I will be your voice — listening to your concerns and working hard to address the issues that matter most to our community. Together, we can fix what’s not working and build a better future for our city.
GERRIT HALE
As this campaign ends, I want to speak directly about what matters most. The truth, accountability, and the future of Marathon.
There have been accusations about City Manager George Garrett. I personally reviewed those claims and found no credible evidence. If there were, action would have been taken. Destroying someone’s reputation after years of service isn’t fair and it’s not my style. What I did find was a deeper problem: a lack of oversight by the City Council. Leadership means taking responsibility, not pointing fingers. Marathon deserves transparency, not turmoil.
I live here full time this is my home. I retired at 58 because I was smart and disciplined enough to plan well, work hard, and succeed. I don’t owe allegiance to anyone. I’ve taken no campaign contributions. My only obligation is to the people of Marathon.
Our greatest challenges are housing and the environment. Limited land, high prices, and state restrictions make affordability difficult for working families. We need creative, balanced solutions, partnerships, adaptive reuse, and practical planning to keep local workers in our community.
We must also restore our waters to pristine condition through stormwater control, canal restoration, and environmental accountability. Clean water sustains our economy, tourism, and way of life.
Marathon is moving forward. Let’s do it responsibly with affordability, accountability, and sustainability.
I’m Gerrit Hale, asking for your vote to keep Marathon the community we’re all proud to call home.
DAVID PERRY
I am running for council for my kids and the future generations of this City. I was born and raised here. My kids and grandkids live here and they want to continue doing so. However, at the rate the City is being built out and the current cost of living, it will be near impossible for the younger generations to afford to live here.
Some of our issues right now include traffic, low water pressure, sewer system failures and low inventory in our grocery stores. Continuing to build out will only magnify these issues.
Not to mention, the affordable housing qualifications are not complimentary to the working class. I understand this needs to be addressed with the State, and I believe that the council needs to apply more pressure to the State to adjust the guidelines.
It’s time for City council to have new members and fresh ideas. We need to make some hard, necessary changes and that’s why I am running. Please vote for me November 4th if you want to see change in the City.
GREG ROBINSON
Marathon is at a crossroads. We can continue with the same short-term thinking and insider politics, or we can demand accountability, planning, and city services that truly work for all residents, not an elite inner circle.
We need leadership that measures performance, evaluates results, and holds itself accountable. The lack of evaluation, transparency, and effectiveness within city management has cost residents both trust and money. It’s time to insist on higher standards and leadership that Listens, Learns, and Delivers.
Our budget should be a reflection of our priorities: better drainage, smarter spending, and stronger neighborhoods. We deserve a clear understanding of how our tax dollars are used and assurance they are being optimized to serve the people who live and work here. We should not continue collecting city revenue only to let it sit unused, like the $4.1 million currently idle in the Affordable Housing Fund. That is a failure of leadership that must be corrected.
My focus is on results:
• Eliminate flooding and drainage failures through planning and prioritized spending
• Optimize the city budget to reduce unnecessary taxes and fees
• Support small and mid-sized businesses to expand Marathon’s economic base
• Strengthen affordability so our workforce and next generation can live and thrive here
Marathon’s future depends on accountable leadership, effective management, and data driven decision making. We can fix what’s broken, protect what matters, and build a city that works for everyone. Learn more at GregForMarathon.com and God Bless America!
LYNN LANDRY
Experience matters!
30 years in the construction industry, 9 years on the planning commission, 3 years on council and the last year serving as Mayor.
No learning curve: I already know the job. In 2022 I ran on change and delivered on promises. Vacation rental compliance and finding a new revenue stream. Brought back 300 affordable allocations through legislation with 191 already built and renting. Added workshops for community input and education. Hired a full time Public Information Officer for transparent, timely information.
No new taxes for last three years while increasing services and finding new revenue streams. Increased first time home buyer program up to $20,000. I proposed and received support on a common-sense residential lighting ordinance. I am very proud to have brought in 19 affordable allocations from the county to build on county owned land in Marathon with tourist tax dollars. The trifecta for building affordable housing. (Land, Allocations, Money)
New community events committee, bringing the community together.
Moving forward and what we are not really talking about. We settled The Federal Clean Water Act lawsuit and are now building a deep well for the wastewater utility.
We are essentially out of building allocations. Senate bill 180 gives more allocations but is currently being challenged in court. Without these allocations, Marathon is the first to run out of building rights. We would be the first to deal with takings cases/lawsuits.
I will continue to fight for truly workforce affordable housing needed in our community.
