Naples seeks governor's veto on airport board election bill

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—A bill that would change how the Naples Airport Authority board is selected has prompted the City of Naples to ask the governor for a veto.

HB 4005 would shift the selection process from city council appointments to countywide elections. Currently, the Naples City Council appoints board members.

If the bill becomes law, voters in both Naples and Collier County would elect board members starting in 2026, expanding who has a say in airport oversight.

In a letter to the governor, the city says the change would take away the City Council’s governance and appointment authority.

Marc Shookman, who lives just a few miles from the airport, says community members should have a say.

“I think the county should have a say in it, because the airport is in our county, and it impacts the people that live in this area, so we should all be a part of it,” Shookman said.

The Naples Airport Authority says it is staying out of the issue, calling it a legislative matter being handled by the city. The governor’s office says the bill has not yet reached the governor’s desk and, until it does, they will not comment.