Although the 2024 U.S. presidential election is receiving most of the attention, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill often stated that “all politics is local.” While Collier County voters will have an opportunity to vote for their choice for U.S. Senator in the Aug. 20 primary election, the majority of the races are local. For the benefit of our readers, The Naples Press emailed the available address for each candidate in those races—which include state representative, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, judges, school board members and committeemen and women—with five questions about why they should be considered for office. The responses received— which have been edited for clarity and length—are below.