For the first time in the Naples Airport Authority's history, Collier County voters rather than Naples City Council members picked who sits on its governing board. Seven candidates competed for two seats reserved for Collier County residents, with early and mail-in returns showing John Goede ahead for Seat 4 and Keith West leading a crowded five-way race for Seat 5.
A New Way of Choosing Who Runs the Airport
The shift traces back to a Florida law signed in April and effective in July that changed how the authority's board is selected, moving from Naples City Council appointments to direct election by all Collier County voters, according to Naples Daily News. The Naples Airport Authority itself dates back decades, having been created by the Florida Legislature in 1969, the newspaper reports.
Five candidates ran for Seat 5 and two ran for Seat 4, per the same account. The Seat 5 field included Jason Brooke, Don Antonacchio, David MacGregor, Jason Schappert and Keith West, while Seat 4 came down to attorney and aircraft owner John Goede and Rick Mellon.
Early Returns Favor Goede and West
In early voting and mail-in ballots, Goede held a lead for Seat 4 with 53.2% of the vote, or 48,822 votes, compared to Mellon's 46.8%, or 43,764 votes, the report states. For Seat 5, West was ahead with 38.3% of the vote, representing 34,773 ballots, in a field split five ways. The dossier of vote figures reflects early and mail-in results rather than certified final outcomes.
Three additional board seats reserved for Naples city residents had no contested race at all. All three candidates for those seats, who are current or former board members, ran unopposed, according to AOPA.
Naples Is Suing Over the New Law
The City of Naples filed a lawsuit in May challenging the state law that stripped City Council of its appointment power, and as of October 27 that case remained pending, Naples Daily News reports. At the heart of the dispute is the authority's lease on 732 acres of mostly city-owned land, paid at $1 a year and set to run through 2068 — the city argues the new law nullifies that lease, while the Naples Airport Authority disagrees.
In St. Petersburg, voters decided in 2003 to keep Albert Whitted Airport open by nearly a three-to-one margin, according to AOPA. In Naples, a 2025 feasibility study separately found relocating the airport too costly and complex to pursue, the aviation group notes.
Budget and New Flights on the Horizon
Beyond the election, the authority is managing a sizable operation. Its fiscal year 2027 operating revenue budget is $49.2 million, with operating expenses budgeted at $43.9 million, per Naples Daily News. The airport is also set to welcome a new route, with American Airlines scheduled to begin daily flights between Naples and Charlotte Douglas International Airport on December 2.
