Florida airport board on November ballot

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed H.B.4005 into law in April, which transitioned the board to a five-member body to be elected by Collier County voters.

The shift comes after years of tension between the airport and the Naples City Council. The city has repeatedly sought to curtail operations, including pressuring for noise reductions, limiting development, exploring the possibility of relocating the airport entirely—which a 2025 feasibility study found to be too costly and complex to pursue—and rejecting federal and state grant funding for safety, security, and infrastructure improvements in an effort to gain control over the airport.

The plight in Naples is an important reminder to all pilots who love their local airports: Know how the airport is governed, and if it is governed by an elected body then pay attention, learn about the candidates, and get out to vote for those who will protect the future of aviation.

Of the five members, three must live in the city of Naples, and the remaining two must live in Collier County but outside of Naples.

All three candidates for the first three seats—the ones for Naples residents—are running unopposed. All are currently serving or have previously served as board members.

Seven candidates are vying for the two remaining seats, and all have connections to the aviation industry.

John Goede and Rick Mellon are facing off for Seat 4.

Five candidates are campaigning for Seat 5.

Keith West
Keith West is a longtime pilot, former AOPA employee, and former AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer. In 2021, West acquired Rexair, a flight school based at the Naples airport. He is a member of The Friends of Naples Airport and founded and serves as president of the airport tenants' council. (Photo courtesy of Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office.)

“Residents of Naples and the surrounding area are going to get a stronger say in the future of Naples Municipal Airport than they’ve ever had before,” said AOPA Southern Regional Manager Stacey Heaton. “It’s important that AOPA members take the time to learn about the candidates for these seats, where they stand on the issues, and who’s going to fight to protect general aviation.”

“Local elections can have a major impact in how airports are perceived and utilized by the community,” said AOPA Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy Leon Jackler. “All that voters in Collier County have to do is look a little north to the city of St. Petersburg, where Albert Whitted Airport faced regular opposition from community members more than 20 years ago.”

In 2003, the city of St. Petersburg let voters decide the future of Albert Whitted—the community voted nearly three-to-one to keep the airport open. The history, fight, and future of Albert Whitted is the focus of the new documentary, Our City, Our Airport, which premiered in late 2025 and is now available for streaming.

“Cases like this show the vocal minority tend to overshadow the vast amount of support that airports have in their local communities,” said Jackler. “We appreciate that Collier County voters will get a say in the future of one of the most important general aviation airports in southwest Florida.”