This opinion piece first appeared in the Naples Daily News online on Dec. 19, 2025, and in its Dec. 21, 2025, print edition.
The Naples City Council election is on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, and three of the council’s seven seats—currently held by Ray Christman, Terry Hutchison, and Beth Petrunoff—are on the ballot. The terms of Mayor Teresa Heitmann and council members Berne Barton, Bill Kramer, and Linda Penniman run through 2028.
Eight candidates are running for the three seats: Dan Barone, Ray Christman, Ted (Edward) Blankenship, John J. Krol, John A. Langley, Sally Petersen, Scott T. Schultz, and Penny Taylor.
All Collier County residents should care
While only city residents may vote for city council, the outcome of the election affects far more than city voters, because council decisions shape the region’s development, environmental future, and economic character in ways that reach far beyond the city limits.
For example, in 2022, after a review process starting in 2019, the City Council approved the redevelopment of the former Naples Beach Hotel site into the new Naples Beach Club, anchored by a Four Seasons Resort. The project—designed to attract a high-end luxury segment of the tourism market—ultimately moved forward only after the Council required deed restrictions and conservation covenants to preserve the golf course land across from the hotel as open space in perpetuity.
In early-2024, the Council approved a new Heart and Stroke Institute on NCH’s downtown campus. The project—a five-story state-of-the-art heart institute—required rezoning and major height deviations above what is normally allowed in the area. Nearby residents warned that the building’s scale would permanently alter neighborhood character and increase traffic. A divided City Council voted to grant the exceptions and allow the project to move forward with conditions.
Beyond development and design, Council actions shape public safety and the City’s environmental resilience, including how Naples can withstand and recover from hurricanes and flooding. A recent example is the Council’s approval of an overhaul of the City’s aging stormwater outfall and drainage system near the beach, despite public concerns over cost, disruption, and beach impacts.
Decisions made by the Naples City Council go to the heart of how Naples balances the scale, charm, and character many residents value with the redevelopment and investment necessary to attract world-class medical care and support the hospitality and tourism industries on which the region depends.
Looking ahead, the future of the Naples Municipal Airport, the City’s response to continuing challenges to home rule and local control, and the next round of updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan are issues likely to shape the next Council’s agenda.
An important change: No early voting
There will be no early voting for this City Council election. Voters’ only options are to vote by mail or to vote in person on Election Day.
New law requires re-requesting a Vote-by-Mail ballot
Under recent changes to Florida election laws, all prior Vote-by-Mail ballot requests expired Dec. 31, 2024. Voters who wish to vote by mail in 2026 must submit a new request with the Supervisor of Elections at www.colliervotes.gov or by calling 239-252-8683.
Key dates and deadlines
Dec. 31 — Supervisor of Elections begins mailing of domestic Vote-by-Mail ballots
Jan. 5 — Deadline to register to vote
Jan. 22 — Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot
Jan. 26 — Deadline to mail Vote-by-Mail ballots
Feb. 3 — Election Day
Learn more
Learn more about upcoming elections and voter services at www.colliervotes.gov. Explore candidates’ websites and social media pages, attend local candidate forums, and watch for upcoming nonpartisan compilations of news coverage and campaign finance data to be published at Sparker’s Soapbox in the coming weeks.