Florida law shifts Naples airport authority board selection to voters

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 4005 into law in April, which transitions the board to a five-member body that will be elected at-large by Collier County voters, with the first election scheduled for November.

The shift comes after years of tension between Naples Municipal Airport and the Naples City Council. The city has repeatedly sought to curtail operations, including pressuring for noise reductions, limiting development, and at various points exploring the possibility of relocating the airport entirely—which a 2025 feasibility study found to be too costly and complex to pursue.

The conflict reached a new level in mid-2025 when the Naples Airport Authority board voted to reject federal and state grant funding for safety, security, and infrastructure improvements in an effort to gain control over the airport. As a result, airport officials proposed instituting landing fees to offset the lost revenue, which AOPA and local pilots oppose.

“This change puts the decision where it belongs—with the residents of Collier County,” said AOPA Southern Regional Manager Stacey Heaton. “Naples Municipal Airport doesn’t just serve the city—it's a critical hub for general aviation for all of southwest Florida, supporting flight training, emergency operations, recreational flying, and business travel across the region. This law ensures the people who depend on it have a direct voice in who protects it.”

Five candidates are currently listed on the Collier County Supervisor of Elections website for the 2026 race: Richard Ruppert, a former NAA board member; Michelle Arnold and Ralph Alberto, both current board members; and John Goede and Rick Mellon. AOPA encourages Collier County pilots and aviation community members to research the candidates and make their voices heard at the ballot box.

AOPA is working with local aviation groups and the National Business Aviation Association to monitor the race and support community outreach efforts.