Tom Hayden, an accomplished journalist whose voice impacted community awareness and change for over four decades, announces his candidacy for Cape Coral City Council in District 3. He will host a campaign kickoff event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Big Blue Brewing, 4721 Southeast 10th Place, in Cape Coral.
Hayden, 62, wrote for newspapers throughout the country in various roles, most notably 11 years as the Cape Coral editor of The News-Press followed by eight years as the voice of reason, writing editorials for The News-Press.
As a 24-year resident of Cape Coral, Hayden is well-versed in the issues facing the growing city of approximately 190,000 residents through his roles as a journalist and community member. As Cape Coral editor of The News-Press, he led community-wide events and storytelling on the city’s utility extension project, land and development issues with the former golf club, downtown and Pine Island Road development, residential growth, water quality for Cape Coral’s 400-mile network of canals and the city’s role in education.
Over his eight years writing editorials, he met and discussed these key issues with municipal councils throughout Lee County, county commissioners, state legislators and members of Congress. Hayden has met with over 300 political candidates running in various city, county, state and federal races. He also moderated numerous election debates in Cape Coral and throughout Lee County. Those relationships resulted in editorials that provided guidance, approval and disapproval for quality of life issues impacting the community.
Hayden’s thoughtful, pointed writing and dedication to community involvement led efforts to bring attention to lack of funding for vital children’s programs through the creation of Pennies for Community Progress. His editorials have supported the need to protect the environment and finish key water restoration projects that help protect Cape Coral canals. His words supported a new LCEC contract, cities helping pay for school resource officers, the need for the Lee County School District’s half-cent sales tax to address funding and Cape Coral’s GO bond to build new parks and to help maintain and expand existing parks.
His belief in improved quality of life extends to his community service work. Hayden serves on the Cape Coral Caring Center and Quality Life Center boards. He has worked collaboratively on many projects with Cape Coral’s service groups and has helped the nonprofits Lifeline Family Center, Valerie’s House and United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties. This year, he and his wife, Joanne, are co-chairs of the Valerie’s House fundraising gala.
To learn more about Hayden and his priorities, or to make a donation, visit Facebook.com/TomHaydenforCapeCityCouncil.
