A Holocaust survivor tells his story: Berlin, Brazil and the Midwest, Thu Nov 5

Picture tomorrow morning. You want to get this done before work, or after the school run, or on the way home. Here is what you need to know so nothing trips you up.

When. Tue Nov 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The line is what counts: if you are standing in line by 7 p.m., you still get to vote.

Where. Your assigned precinct, and only there. On Election Day the county says a ballot cast outside your assigned precinct will not count, so check before you drive. Go to colliervotes.gov and use "Find My Election Day Polling Place," or call the Supervisor of Elections at 239-252-8683 (239-252-VOTE).

What to bring. A photo and signature ID. The county's list includes a Florida driver license, a Florida ID card, a U.S. passport, a debit or credit card and a military ID.

If a mail ballot is still on your counter. Do not mail it now. It has to reach the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. tomorrow to count. You can drop it off, no postage needed, at the Supervisor of Elections office at 3750 Enterprise Ave (listed Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Two other stops take it as well: the North Collier Government Center, 2335 Orange Blossom Dr, and the Heritage Bay Government Services Center, 15450 Collier Blvd (both listed Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). The county pages do not list hours for these three places on Election Day, so call 239-252-8683 before you go. One more thing: you cannot hand a mail ballot in at your polling place. If you would rather vote in person, bring the mail ballot with you. Election workers will cancel it and give you a new ballot.

Think of Florida's rainy-day fund as the family emergency jar. Right now the jar has a lid on it. Amendment 1 asks whether the state may keep a lot more in the jar, and whether it has to keep putting money in every year. It needs 60 percent of the vote to pass. If it passes, it takes effect Jan 5, 2027.

What the ballot says. The ballot title is "Budget Stabilization Fund." The summary on your ballot reads: "Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to increase the amount of funds that may be retained in the budget stabilization fund from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections, require the legislature to transfer the lesser of $750 million or the amount required to reach 25% of the general revenue collections each year unless certain conditions are met, and allow the legislature to withdraw funds for critical state needs."

What it does. The cap on the fund would rise from 10 percent to 25 percent of general revenue, the state's main pot of tax money. Each year the state would have to move $750 million into the fund, or whatever it takes to reach 25 percent, whichever is less. The Legislature could skip the yearly move in some cases, and some of those cases need a two-thirds vote of each house.

What it could cost. State staff call the effect on the state budget "indeterminate but likely insignificant."

How the Legislature voted. The House passed it 100 to 1 and the Senate passed it 29 to 4, both on June 16, 2025.

The case for. The Republican Party of Florida backs it. Its statement says: "Hurricanes, emergencies, and economic downturns don't wait for the budget cycle. Amendment 1 makes sure Florida saves in good years so it doesn't have to raise taxes in bad ones." Florida TaxWatch also supports it.

The case against. Gov. Ron DeSantis calls it "a foolish constitutional amendment proposal" and says: "We already have a maxed out rainy day fund and have run the largest surpluses in state history." Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO asks: "We have so many needs and obligations that are still unmet. Why would we take money and put it in our retirement account?"

What a yes vote means. You are telling the state it may save up to 25 percent of net general revenue, and that it must make the yearly moves, with the exceptions above.

What a no vote means. You are keeping the 10 percent cap and the current rules.

Amendment 2 is about the tax on tractors, harvesters and other farm equipment. It would stop local governments from taxing that equipment. It needs 60 percent of the vote to pass. It first applies to tax years that start on Jan 1, 2027.

What the ballot says. The ballot title is "Exemption of Tangible Personal Property on Agricultural Land from Taxation." The summary on your ballot reads: "Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to exempt tangible personal property habitually located or typically present on land classified as agricultural, used in the production of agricultural products or for agritourism activities, and owned by the landowner or leaseholder of the agricultural land from ad valorem taxation. If approved this amendment would first apply for tax years beginning January 1, 2027."

What it does. Today a business can already skip property tax on the first $25,000 of equipment and other movable property. Amendment 2 would exempt all of it when it sits on farmland and is used for farming or for agritourism, such as a farm that lets visitors pick fruit. The owner of the land or the farmer who leases it gets the break.

What it could cost. The state's Revenue Estimating Conference estimates a negative recurring effect on local government revenue of $31.0 million a year across Florida, starting in the 2027-28 budget year. We found no official estimate for Collier County or Naples.

How the Legislature voted. The House passed it 110 to 1 on April 25, 2025, and the Senate passed it 37 to 0 on May 2, 2025.

The case for. The Florida Farm Bureau says: "Reducing costs on essential equipment helps family farms remain viable and preserve agricultural land for future generations." The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association says it supports Amendment 2 "because reducing taxes on essential agricultural equipment would help lower operating costs and strengthen the long-term viability of Florida farms."

The case against. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, says: "This bill would have a $30 million fiscal impact for local governments, with no guardrails to prevent windfalls. It would also mostly benefit a handful of giant agribusinesses with multiple TPP (tangible personal property) accounts."

What a yes vote means. You are putting the farm equipment exemption into the state constitution.

What a no vote means. You are leaving the current rules alone, including the $25,000 business exemption.

Amendment 3 is the property tax question. If Amendment 3 passes, many Naples homeowners would pay less in non-school property tax. The catch is that the city and county would collect less too, and the amendment does not say how that money is replaced. It needs 60 percent of the vote to pass. It would take effect Jan 1, 2027.

What the ballot says. The ballot title is "Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments." The summary on your ballot runs five short paragraphs, joined here: "This amendment increases the homestead exemption, for all non-school taxes, to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and adjusts for inflation thereafter. It requires the Legislature to prescribe a uniform procedure for counties and municipalities, for their respective levies, to increase the homestead exemption up to full assessed value, and allows special districts, subject to referendum approval, to do the same. Persons who are not Florida residents on December 31, 2026, will receive the existing homestead exemption upon qualifying for a homestead exemption, with the increased homestead exemption beginning with the fifth year of exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution. This amendment reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. This amendment requires counties and municipalities to use property taxes solely for public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees, and operations and administration. Other expenditures may be approved by county officers or county or municipal governing bodies unless prohibited by general law, notwithstanding Article VII, Section 9(a) of the Florida Constitution, which allows counties and municipalities to levy property taxes for their respective purposes. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2027."

What it does. The ballot summary says the homestead exemption for non-school taxes would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then rise with inflation starting in 2029. The homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of the home where you live. School taxes would not change. For property that is not a homestead, the yearly cap on how much the assessed value can rise would drop from 10 percent to 5 percent. The amendment also limits what local governments may spend property tax money on to a listed set of purposes.

What it could cost. The state's Revenue Estimating Conference estimates local governments would collect $4.95 billion less in non-school property tax in the 2027-28 budget year, $8.78 billion less in 2028-29, and $11.86 billion less a year once the full effect arrives. Those are statewide numbers. A slide in the City of Naples' Sept 16, 2026 budget hearing presentation says "Estimated impacts of 3.11% in 2027/28 and 4.62% in 2028/29." It puts the loss at roughly $1.5 million in 2027-28 and $2.3 million in 2028-29 for the General Fund. How much you would save depends on your home's taxable value. We found no official Naples or Collier savings example, and the Collier County Property Appraiser sets your exact figures.

How the Legislature voted. The House passed it 75 to 26 and the Senate passed it 30 to 9, both on June 2, 2026.

The case for. Bryan Avila, Byron Donalds's running mate, voted for it as a state senator. He said: "This amendment takes a historic step, providing meaningful relief for Florida families, while protecting businesses from extreme tax increases and safeguarding local funding for education, law enforcement, infrastructure, and other essential government functions."

The case against. The Florida Association of Counties says: "The amendment cuts the largest source of funding for critical local services and provides no replacement revenue." Sadaf Knight, CEO of the Florida Policy Institute, says the measure "does not represent cost savings, but rather a cost shift."

What a yes vote means. You are raising the homestead exemption for non-school taxes, lowering the cap on non-homestead assessment increases to 5 percent, and limiting how local property tax money may be spent.

What a no vote means. You are keeping the current rules.

Visitors who rent a condo or a hotel room for a short stay pay a tourist tax on it. Collier voters now decide whether that tax goes up. The county wants to add one percentage point, which would bring the total to six percent. The question is on every county ballot, so Naples voters decide it with the rest of Collier.

What the question says. "Shall Collier County Ordinance No. 2025-33 be approved authorizing Collier County to levy and collect an additional one percent Tourist Development Tax from all short-term rentals in order to provide additional revenue to fund promotion, related infrastructure improvements, and other authorized uses as set forth in Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes." The choices are FOR the Tourist Development Tax or AGAINST the Tourist Development Tax.

Who pays and who spends it. Visitors pay the tax on short-term rentals, such as a vacation condo or a short hotel stay. The county spends the money on tourism promotion and related projects.

Campaign money. One committee is registered with the county to support it, the Paradise Coast Destination Investment Fund. Through Oct 29, it reported $12,630 in monetary contributions, $76.53 in in-kind contributions and $12,656.53 in spending on marketing and advertising for the tax increase. We found no committee registered against it.

The case for. Commissioner Burt Saunders, who proposed it, says the money would finish the county-owned Paradise Coast Sports Complex and pay for other tourism needs. He says: "This is a tourist tax that will benefit those that are fishermen that need passes maintained, beachgoers that need the beaches renourished and maintained, the entire tourist industry that needs more advertising." Kristina Park, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, says "We have seen the research" and "There is no negative impact on visitation with that additional penny." She adds: "This is not a tax on residents." The Collier chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association also backs it.

The case against. The Naples Area Board of Realtors opposes it. Danielle Hudson, its vice president of public policy, says: "The proposed 1% increase would create a permanent new revenue stream of roughly $10 million a year, with no sunset." She adds: "We believe the county should establish a specific need, measurable results, and clear accountability before creating another permanent tax."

What a yes vote (FOR) means. You are letting the county add the extra one percent.

What a no vote (AGAINST) means. You are leaving the tax where it is.

One seat, and three names on it: the senator who holds it now, a Florida House member from District 13 (part of Duval County), and a man running with no party.

Ashley Moody (REP)

Ashley Moody is the sitting U.S. Senator from Florida, and she is asking voters to keep the seat. Her pitch: "As U.S. Senator, Ashley continues her mission to uphold conservative values, strengthen national security, and fight for Floridians."

Moody says her top three issues are "the economy, public safety, and restoring trust and accountability to Washington." On the economy she points to the tax cuts she calls the largest in American history: "No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and No Tax on Social Security." She says she is "fighting to expand homeownership through the HELPER Act," which offers mortgage help to law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders and teachers, and that she wants to protect small businesses from burdensome regulations. Her campaign site's About page is a biography that says she backs President Trump's agenda and "America First policies" but lists no issue plan, so these answers come from a statewide voter guide.

Her name turns up in Naples at the airport. A City staff slide on Naples Airport Authority noise strategies, filed with the Jun 16, 2025 City Council workshop, lists Sen. Ashley Moody, along with Rep. Byron Donalds and Sen. Rick Scott, under "Need support from Florida congressional delegation." That is a listing on a slide, not a statement from her.

Her campaign has raised about $14.5 million through Oct 14. About $6.8 million came from individuals, $2.4 million from other committees, and $5.2 million was moved over from her other campaign committees. She has $815,882 in the bank and has put in $0 of her own money. The largest names on file are ROWAN, MARC J., FCPA LLC and L M SALES ASSOCIATES, at $14,000 each. Since Oct 14, 54 late gifts worth $114,869 have come in, the largest $5,000 each from HENNE, CARTER E. and RAYBON, CHRIS.

Angie Nixon (DEM)

Angie Nixon is a Florida House member for District 13, part of Duval County, and she is running for the U.S. Senate. Her pitch: "Angie is fighting for better opportunities for our children."

Nixon says Florida's problem is cost: "Floridians are being crushed by an affordability crisis created by greed and corruption." Her campaign site centers on what it calls a Working Families Guarantee: Medicare for All, free childcare, free paid family and sick leave, a national rent freeze and a moratorium on evictions for up to two years, and a universal jobs program. Her site asks "How will we pay for it?" and answers: tax the billionaires, put the needs of everyday Americans ahead of spending on "war and violence overseas," and get big money out of politics.

She has raised about $11.3 million through Oct 14. About $11.0 million came from individuals, $218,222 from other committees, and $93,000 was moved over from another campaign committee. She has $3,266,795 on hand and $0 of her own money in the race. The top names on file are Pickup, Donna $10,500; Phillips, Steve $10,500; and Rathore, Mobeen $10,029. Since Oct 14, 155 late gifts worth $269,563 have arrived, the largest $5,000 each from six sources.

Neil J. Gillespie (NPA)

Neil J. Gillespie is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature, and he is running with no party. His pitch: "I am running for public office in part because of lawfare and lack of due process in our state and federal courts."

Gillespie says he is running "in part because of lawfare and lack of due process in our state and federal courts." He calls himself "a working class capitalist" and promises "I will be your independent voice in the Senate of the United States." We did not find a list of policy proposals, or a plan for how he would pay for any, on his campaign blog, and he did not answer a statewide voter guide questionnaire.

His campaign has raised $13,284 through Oct 14, including $8,000 from individuals. It has $634 in the bank, and he has put in $3,628 of his own. The biggest names on file are Kramer, Megan Neuberger $3,500; Seale, William $3,500; and Brackett, Terry $1,000. Nothing new has come in since Oct 14.

Collier County has two Congress races this year, and your address decides which one is on your ballot. District 19 covers the City of Naples, North Naples, Pelican Bay, Golden Gate City and parts of East Naples. District 22 covers Marco Island, Lely, Golden Gate Estates, Immokalee, Ave Maria and Everglades City, and its race lists two names, Casey Askar (REP) and Pia Dandiya (DEM). This section covers District 19. To see which race is yours, open your sample ballot on the Collier County Supervisor of Elections sample ballot page.

One seat, and it is on Collier County ballots. District 19 sends a single member to the U.S. House, and this year the choice is between a Republican funding much of his run with his own loans, a Democrat whose priorities start with veterans, and a candidate with no party. A fourth, Alexandra Zakhvatayev, is a write-in.

Jim Schwartzel (REP)

Jim Schwartzel is the Republican running for Congress in District 19. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. His pitch: "Families here are paying too much for groceries, housing and insurance. I'll fight to bring those costs down."

Schwartzel runs Sun Broadcasting and says he was born at Naples Community Hospital. His site lists what he wants: secure the border and deport people who are here illegally, "Lower the cost of living," make the Trump tax cuts permanent, and "Balance the budget and cut wasteful spending." He would cut regulations and "privatize government functions, from expanding school choice to defunding the Department of Education and cutting the Postal Service in half." Close to home, he wants a full VA hospital, an inland interstate bypass, a hardened power grid, septic-to-sewer conversion, finished Everglades restoration and a longer offshore drilling ban. On prices, his site names the tax and spending cuts but gives no further steps.

More than half of his money is his own. He has raised about $2.8 million through Oct 14. About $1.2 million came from individuals, $139,500 from other committees, and $1.46 million was loans from the candidate. He has $506,211 on hand. His own money totals $1,526,632, which is $1,460,000 in loans plus $66,632 in 33 gifts of goods or services (in-kind). The biggest names on file are SCHWARTZEL, JOSEPH $12,000 (this includes a $5,000 entry dated Oct 9 and marked "REFUND TO BE ISSUED"); DEMIAN, HANY $8,500; and then 56 more names at $7,000 each. Since Oct 14, 17 late gifts worth $41,750 came in, the largest $3,500 each from LAFACE, ANGELA and LAFACE, CHRIS.

Victor Arias (DEM)

Victor Arias is a Democrat running for Congress in District 19. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. His campaign's list of priorities starts with veterans. "His published campaign priorities include cutting VA red tape for veterans; protecting Medicare and Social Security for seniors; expanding economic opportunity; investing in infrastructure and education; protecting the environment and clean water; and improving access to affordable health care."

Arias is a Democrat whose campaign puts veterans first. Pages that explain his positions say he supports "reducing unnecessary Veterans Affairs red tape" and better access to VA health care and benefits. They also say he supports Medicare drug-price negotiation and lower out-of-pocket prescription costs, and stronger infrastructure, preparedness and recovery resources after storms such as Hurricane Ian. Those pages describe what he supports but do not name a bill or say how much any of it would cost.

His campaign has raised about $69,983 through Oct 14, including $31,408 from individuals. It has $15,417 on hand. His own money is $38,500, which is $8,500 given and $30,000 in loans. The biggest names on file are Hunter, Verna $4,000; Missirian, Robere $3,000; and Hunter, Horace J Sr. $2,500. Since Oct 14 there has been one late gift of $1,000.

Seth Haskin (NPA)

Seth Haskin is running for Congress in District 19 with no party. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. His pitch: "I will enforce existing statutes with integrity and protect the rights of every citizen with no bias towards any set group or class."

Haskin, who says he is 26, calls himself "a strict constitutionalist." For every bill, he says, he asks: "Does the Constitution give Congress the authority to do it?" His site lists how he would act on that: apply the non-delegation doctrine more strictly so lawmaking stays with Congress and not "unelected administrative agencies," reduce federal regulation that goes beyond what the Constitution allows, budget with more discipline and less deficit spending, and give states a stronger role. He also says he wants reforms that keep the House "responsive to population and community realities."

His campaign has raised $8,000 through Oct 14, all of it loans from him. It has $651 on hand. His own money is those same $8,000 in loans, and no other donors are itemized. Nothing new has come in since Oct 14.

Alexandra Zakhvatayev (write-in)

Alexandra Zakhvatayev is on the District 19 ballot as a write-in candidate, so voters have to write her name in. She is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. The state lists her as a qualified write-in candidate (filed Apr 21, qualified Jun 8).

Zakhvatayev lives in Cape Coral, works as a certified fitness trainer and founded a language-learning platform. We did not find a campaign platform for her. The one position on record is support for continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, from a February 2025 newspaper guest commentary in which she wrote that "U.S. support for Ukraine is a matter of national security interest." A voter guide found no public position from her on taxes, housing, health care and 13 other issues.

No money is on file for her. We found no FEC record for her as of Oct 24, and the state's campaign documents page lists only an oath, a notice and an acknowledgment. Her own money is none on file, there are no donors, and nothing has come in since Oct 14.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor appear on the ballot as pairs. Ten teams are asking for your vote, from a U.S. congressman with $19.6 million raised to write-in tickets with almost no money. The money figures below are for the whole ticket.

Byron Donalds / Bryan Avila (REP)

Byron Donalds is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 19th District, the seat Naples votes in. His running mate, Bryan Avila, resigned from Florida Senate District 39 on Aug 25, 2026. Donalds's pitch: "Byron's commitment is to having a Florida accountable to its citizens, a Florida where our children can achieve their dreams, and an affordable Florida for everyone who calls Florida home."

Donalds says the job is lowering what Floridians pay. His site promises to "Protect reforms and stop lawsuit abuse that jacks up rates for everyone," and to build "a simple online Scorecard where you can compare insurance companies side by side on price, how fast they pay claims, and how often they deny coverage." To get there, he says he would keep the state's 2023 tort reform law, trim state fees "when reserves are full," and have the insurance industry pay for the scorecard. On property taxes he backs Amendment 3, and he told the Miami Herald that if it fails he would use the state's Tax and Budget Reform Commission to look for a way to fully repeal homestead property taxes. Bryan Avila has not published a platform of his own that we could find.

Donalds has a record to cite, and parts of it are close to home. In Washington he sponsored H.R. 1676, the Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025, introduced Feb 27, 2025. It passed the House 400 to 0 on Dec 9, 2025 (Roll Call 316, 32 not voting), and the House Clerk's roll call lists Donalds as Yea. He also sponsored two resolutions to name the House Press Gallery for Frederick Douglass, H.Res. 850 in 2023 and H.Res. 137 in 2025, and he cosponsored H.R. 5921, the No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023. In Naples, the City Council's minutes of Oct 6, 2022 summarize: "Mayor Heitmann said U.S. Representative Byron Donalds made a request to extend the State of Emergency to 180 days." The minutes of May 18, 2022 summarize a moment about sewers: "Council Member Blankenship acknowledged United States Representative Byron Donalds, who recently requested a significant federal grant to help pay for the septic-to-sewer project." A City slide on airport noise strategies also lists him under "Need support from Florida congressional delegation." That is a listing, not a statement from him. Avila has no bills or votes to cite.

The ticket has raised about $19.6 million, with only $105 of its own money. The biggest name on file is the REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA at $2,549,561 (in-kind), followed by COMPLETE CARE $9,000 and ORANGE BLOSSOM STRATEGIES $6,193. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

David Jolly / Gwen Graham (DEM)

David Jolly and Gwen Graham run as Democrats. Neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Jolly's pitch: "Floridians pay the highest home insurance prices in America. Here is the plan to cut them by 60 to 70 percent." Graham's pitch: "You have my commitment that I will spend each day working hard to improve the quality of life for everyone in our great state."

Jolly is a former Republican congressman who now runs as a Democrat. He says the cost of living comes first, starting with insurance. His plan is one state-backed hurricane fund that would carry hurricane and wind risk, so private insurers would no longer price it into your policy. His site says: "Insurance companies would start paying the taxes they currently avoid." It adds that coverage would start only after enough money is set aside and backup insurance is in place. He would also cap utility profits "in line with the national average" and build workforce housing with down-payment help. Graham, who also served in Congress, says: "Public education is where I will start." Her pledge is that "we have to find the resources to pay" teachers "what they deserve."

Jolly's name is on five bills in the 113th Congress, all as a cosponsor: H.R. 792, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2013 (Apr 8, 2014); H.J.Res. 2, a balanced budget amendment (May 6, 2014); H.R. 1416, the Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2013 (May 20, 2014); H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014 (May 6, 2014); and H.R. 3930, the National Commission on the Structure of the Army Act of 2014 (Apr 28, 2014). Graham has no bills or votes to cite.

The ticket has raised about $12.3 million, with $50 of its own money. The biggest name on file is the FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY at $435,705 (in-kind), then CRANDALL ROBERT $6,084 and NATHAN JAMES $6,080, followed by 25 more names at $6,000 each. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Scott Eckhard Jewett / Nicole Skelly (LPF)

Scott Jewett and Nicole Skelly run as LPF candidates, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Jewett's pitch: "Cut the rules and taxes that drive prices up." Skelly's pitch: "Nicole is ready to help cut the red tape that drives up prices, protect parental rights" (the sentence continues past that point on the page).

Jewett is a Boca Raton entrepreneur running as a Libertarian. His to-do list includes fixing the insurance affordability crisis, cutting taxes, shrinking government and stopping the use of Flock cameras. His site says how he would lower insurance bills: "We will cut those rules and open the market so more companies compete for your business." On schools he says: "We support real school choice so education dollars follow the child, not the system." Skelly lives in Milton with her husband and two children, and the family runs a construction business. She says she wants to cut red tape and protect parental rights.

The ticket has raised $14,595, with a $5,000 loan of its own money. The biggest names on file are GARDOS NATALIE $3,000, LITINESKY VICTOR $3,000 and BRAUNSHTEIN SULI $500. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Charles Burkett / Ruben A. Coto (NPA)

Charles Burkett and Ruben Coto run with no party, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Burkett's pitch: "Eliminate property taxes on homesteaded primary residences." Coto's pitch: "Leveraging his background in real estate, finance, and insurance, Ruben is focused on actionable statewide economic goals designed to lower the cost of living for all Floridians."

Burkett is the mayor of Surfside, first elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2024, and he runs a national investment company. He wants to cut property taxes on homes. His site says he would raise the homestead exemption 10 percentage points for each year of residency beyond ten, until it reaches 100 percent, and cut the state's maximum property tax rate by half. He asks elected leaders to cut their budgets "by at least 5% and preferably 10%." He also says he would rewrite the insurance laws, repeal the Live Local Act and stop building new housing until the state can absorb the people already here. His site says his campaign is "Not accepting contributions."

The ticket has raised $250,675, and $250,000 of that is its own loans. The one donor on file is RUBEN COTO at $675 (in-kind, campaign flyers), the same name as the running mate. It was the only entry dated Oct 17 or later (Oct 19).

Frank J. Russo / Rachel Rodriguez (NPA)

Frank Russo and Rachel Rodriguez run with no party, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Russo's pitch: "His Florida Medical Freedom Initiative protects informed consent and individual medical choice while strengthening patient rights, access to accurate information and transparency and accountability in public health decision-making."

Russo is a Florida-born businessman and insurance executive. His site says he wants "to lower costs, protect homeowners, expand opportunity and invest in the people who make Florida work." He says he would raise the average teacher salary to "at least $75,000" and expand skilled trades, apprenticeships and career paths. The longer plans, including a Florida 9.9 Plan, sit on pages behind the home page. The ticket's site describes Rodriguez as a Florida attorney and the mother of three, and calls the pair "A complementary governing partnership combining executive leadership with legal accountability."

The ticket has raised $887,011, and $850,250 of that is its own money, including $850,000 in loans. The biggest names on file are BURCH BOB $3,000, BURCH ELIZABETH $3,000 and TRIPP CARMEN $3,000. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Moliere "Moe" Dimanche / Benjiman Rojas (NPA)

Moe Dimanche and Benjiman Rojas run with no party, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Dimanche's pitch: "HOAs will be abolished under the Dimanche Administration, and Floridians will enjoy their Constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness/property in their own homes."

Dimanche grew up in a single-parent home in Orlando, and his site says he led the push to incorporate Pine Hills as a city. He promises that "On Day 1, Moe will permanently close Alligator Alcatraz." He also wants to abolish homeowners associations and end property taxes on homesteads, saying "the state can fund these efforts without taxing property held as the homestead." His site does not say how he would end HOAs or replace the tax money. He also wants more unincorporated land brought into cities, so residents have more say over their own tax dollars and public works.

The ticket has raised $7,960, and $7,040 of that is its own loans. The biggest names on file are DIMANCHE JERRY $250, JONES MONICA $200 and VALENTINO ROBINSON $200. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Dean Ocean Abrams / Joe Van Vactor (NPA)

Dean Abrams and Joe Van Vactor run with no party, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Abrams's pitch: "End warrantless mass tracking by license plate reader networks, and audit every camera system already running."

Abrams is running with no party and says he takes no PAC or corporate money. His home page lists six fights: no property tax on homesteaded homes worth up to twice your county's median, a cap on insurer profits, lower health care costs, a ban on new AI data centers, an end to license plate tracking, and no tolls where a road's bonds are paid off. For insurance he says he would require "Rate filings in plain language" and restore your right to sue when a claim is wrongly denied. Van Vactor has not published a platform of his own that we could find.

The ticket has raised $15,325, and $15,100 of that is its own loans. The biggest names on file are BRYANT JUDITH $100, FROHN FREDERICK $50 and NADEAU LINDA $50. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto / Juan Santana (NPA)

Dr. Jeff Datto and Juan Santana run with no party, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Datto's pitch: "Abolish all charter schools and bring them into state public education, with opportunities for employees to work for the state."

Datto is a Hialeah scientist and neuroscientist who founded DattoAI. His site names a set of ideas: abolish charter schools and bring them into state public education, let adults play private home poker, offer statewide English and Spanish education, and build Florida-owned AI systems "with human control and public benefit." He also wants renters to "share fairly in property-tax relief." His home page gives each idea a line or two and does not lay out how it would be paid for. Santana has not published a platform of his own that we could find.

The ticket has raised $5,501, and every filed entry, $5,501, is the candidate's own money. No donors other than the candidate are on file. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Kathy Anderson / Daniel Nokovich (write-in)

Kathy Anderson and Daniel Nokovich are a write-in ticket, so voters have to write their names in, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Nokovich's pitch: "I will always defend the right of every Floridian to live and work according to their conscience."

Nokovich's platform page describes him as a "faith-driven, constitutionally grounded Republican," and his slogan is "Returning Florida to the People and the People Back to God." He says he would put "full parental authority over curriculum, school choice, and homeschooling freedom" first, and strengthen the sheriff system in each county. To keep spending in check he would order "financial efficiency audits of all state programs" and drop fees "that lack constitutional grounding." Kathy Anderson has not published a platform of her own that we could find.

No money has been filed for the ticket. There is no own money, no donors, and nothing dated Oct 17 or later.

Erik Morris / LeRoy Alaways (write-in)

Erik Morris and LeRoy Alaways are a write-in ticket, so voters have to write their names in, and neither is on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Morris's pitch: "I pledge to keep party politics out of my leadership."

Morris is a Tampa project manager with more than 20 years in themed and traditional entertainment, born in Winter Park. His main promise is to take party politics out of the job: "On my first day, I will leave the party and serve as an independent Florida incumbent." He says he would extend homestead tax benefits to a resident's first investment property, offset by a surcharge on "mega-investors," and end insurance exclusions on flood and hurricane damage or preexisting conditions. To learn what lawmakers want, he pledges to ask every member of the Senate and House for their top priorities and make them public. LeRoy Alaways has not published a platform of his own that we could find.

The ticket has raised $285, including $159 of its own loans. The names on file are MORRIS WAYNE A $50, NAOMI MORRIS, MP $49 and MORRIS NAOMI, MP $25. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

One seat, and the ballot has the sitting Attorney General and a challenger.

James Uthmeier (REP)

James Uthmeier is the sitting Attorney General of Florida, and he is asking voters to keep him in the job. His pitch: "James is focused on keeping Florida safe, strong, and free."

Uthmeier says he is running "Because the job isn't finished." His priorities, he says, are to "protect kids, back the men and women who wear the badge, and enforce the law without apology." He points to nearly 2,000 child predators arrested in eighteen months, the state's immigration enforcement partnership with the Trump administration, and cases against tech and pharmaceutical companies, and says each of those fights has "a next chapter." His plan, in other words, is to keep doing the work he is doing. His campaign site is a short biography and lists no separate platform, so these answers come from a statewide voter guide.

His campaign has raised about $2.4 million, with none of it filed as his own money. The biggest name on file is the REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA at $614,120 (it includes $364,120 in-kind), followed by WEIDA JASON $6,601 and APARTMENT PAC $6,000. Since Oct 17, 51 entries worth $151,860 have been filed, including REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA $87,357 in-kind (Oct 19).

Jose Javier Rodriguez (DEM)

Jose Javier Rodriguez is the Democrat challenging for Attorney General. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. His pitch: "Hold Big Tech and social media platforms accountable for hurting Florida's children."

Rodriguez sums up his platform in three words: "Crime. Costs. Corruption." On crime, he would hold Big Tech accountable for hurting children, prosecute cartels and child exploitation networks, and crack down on elder abuse and deed and title theft. On costs, he would investigate electric utilities over rate setting and insurers over "rate inflation, excessive claim denials, and delayed payouts," and stop algorithmic rent setting by corporate landlords. On corruption, he would "Pursue full recovery of the $10 million stolen from Floridians in the Hope Florida scandal." His site frames each as a day one promise, carried out through investigations and enforcement.

His campaign has raised about $2.0 million, with none of it filed as his own money. The biggest name on file is the FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY at $246,460 (in-kind), then 15 more names at $6,000 each. Since Oct 17, 425 entries worth $86,941 have been filed.

One seat, and the ballot has the sitting Chief Financial Officer and a challenger.

Blaise Ingoglia (REP)

Blaise Ingoglia is the sitting Chief Financial Officer of Florida, and he is asking voters to keep him in the job. His pitch: "Blaise is fighting to make Florida more affordable and government more accountable."

Ingoglia says his one goal is "making Florida affordable for the families who live here." His central claim is that "Local governments don't have a revenue problem. They have a spending problem." His method is audits: his office's reviews, he says, have exposed $3.7 billion in wasteful local spending, and "Every audit is ammunition to lower your property tax bill." He also backed HB 1329, which requires counties and cities to publish budgets earlier, post employee salaries and identify 10% in cuts. On insurance, his site says he fined insurers $2.4 million, sued two companies and wrote a bill making insurers disclose how they spend premiums.

His campaign has raised about $3.0 million, with none of it filed as his own money. The biggest name on file is the REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA at $1,310,723 (in-kind), then 19 more names at $6,000 each. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Annette Taddeo (DEM)

Annette Taddeo is the Democrat running for Chief Financial Officer. She is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Her pitch: "Post every contract. Audit every no-bid deal."

Taddeo says her plan "starts with the costs Florida families feel most: home insurance, property taxes, and power." Her method is to use "the powers the office already has." Within her first 100 days she would publish a report card grading every insurance company on how fast it pays claims. She would also push for a bigger homestead exemption with a backstop for rural counties, send strike teams to storm-hit communities within 3 to 5 days, put every state contract in the public FACTS database and audit every no-bid deal. Her site says: "Every promise on this page is something the CFO's office can actually do."

Her campaign has raised $309,587. Her own money is $9,256, which is $6,000 in loans and $3,256 in-kind. The biggest names on file are FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY $24,941 (in-kind), COFRIN GLADYS $6,000 and LOGAN DANIEL $6,000. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

One seat, and the ballot has the sitting Commissioner of Agriculture, a challenger and a write-in.

Wilton Simpson (REP)

Wilton Simpson is the sitting Commissioner of Agriculture, and he is running for the office he holds. His pitch: "Wilton has stood up to politicians who treat Floridians like children incapable of making their own choices, because he knows that personal responsibility is essential to achieving the American Dream."

Simpson, a farmer and citrus grower, builds his case on what he has already done rather than on a new list of promises. His site says he worked to protect farmers from frivolous lawsuits through the Right to Farm Act and to shield agricultural land from property tax increases through the Greenbelt laws. It credits his department with a 243% increase in farmland preserved through the Rural & Family Lands Protection Program and $100M for firefighting equipment and prescribed fire. For the future, it says only that he "will continue to support our farmers and make sure this critical industry is protected." We did not find a separate plan for a next term.

His campaign has raised about $1.5 million, with none of it filed as his own money. The biggest names on file are the FLORIDA REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC. at $34,990 (in-kind), the REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA at $22,500 (in-kind) and COMCAST CORPORATION at $6,000. Since Oct 17, 39 entries worth $38,750 have been filed.

Joey Mendoza Atkins (DEM)

Joey Atkins is the Democrat running for Commissioner of Agriculture. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. His pitch: "JOEY will fight to reinstate the 2nd Amendment rights of medical marijuana patients."

Atkins frames his race as a challenge to Simpson on five issues. He "will fight to suspend the state gas tax, and crack down on price gouging" to lower gas and food prices. He supports "a statewide moratorium" on data centers. He says he would protect farmland "from predatory developers." He would "reinstate the 2nd Amendment rights of medical marijuana patients," and use a Cabinet seat to expand Gov. DeSantis' ban on Flock cameras. His site gives the goal for each item in a line or two, with little detail on how each would be done.

His campaign has raised $69,331, and $8,480 of it is his own loan. The biggest names on file are STIEFEL BARBARA $3,000, HENLEY DONALD $2,000 and CRAWFORD MARY $1,000. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Kyle "KC" Gibson (write-in)

Kyle "KC" Gibson is a write-in candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture, so voters have to write his name in. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature.

Gibson, a Fort Lauderdale resident, ran statewide before as a no-party candidate for governor in 2018 and in 2022. A voter guide says he "has published no platform for this office," and we did not find a campaign site or a list of promises from him either. We cannot tell you what he stands for or how he would run the department.

His account has raised $3,050 from 91 entries dated 2022 to 2026, under an account first filed Oct 25, 2022. His own money is $261, including a $120 loan and $100 in-kind. The biggest names on file are GIBSON TAMARA $403 (includes $100 in-kind), BANKSTON NICHELLE $191 (includes $150 in-kind) and GIBSON JOAN $126. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

One seat, and it is open. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo is leaving office because of term limits, and the two people running to replace her are a state representative who appears in City Hall's records and a challenger who is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature.

Lauren Uhlich Melo (REP)

Lauren Melo is the Florida House member for District 82, which covers Hendry County and part of Collier, and she is running for the State Senate. Her pitch: "Lauren Melo is a conservative Republican who fights to protect our second amendment rights, honor our veterans, cut bureaucratic red tape, and grow the economy."

Melo describes herself as a businesswoman. She started a trucking company in 1991 and grew it from one truck to a fleet, and she now owns a real estate brokerage and was president of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS. Her platform is one line: she "fights to protect our second amendment rights, honor our veterans, cut bureaucratic red tape, and grow the economy." Her site does not say which bills she would file, which rules she would cut or how she would pay for anything. We did not find a longer platform from her.

She turns up in Naples City Hall's records. At a Jun 15, 2026 meeting, the minutes summarize the City's lobbyist: "Ms. Hurley noted that Senator Kathleen Passidomo would be leaving office due to term limits. She stated that Representative Lauren Melo is expected to succeed Senator Passidomo and that a strong working relationship has already been established." The Jul 6, 2026 joint minutes of the City Council and the Naples Airport Authority summarize that "City Attorney McConnell also stated that he contacted the offices of Representative Lauren Melo and Representative Adam Botana, House Bill (HB) 4005's sponsor." The City's 2026 Legislative Priorities document, filed with the Jun 15, 2026 City Council meeting, lists her among the legislative delegation that received the City's requests. That is a listing, not a statement from her.

Her campaign has raised $331,895, with none of it filed as her own money. The biggest name on file is the FLORIDA REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC. at $17,492 (in-kind), then 26 more names at $2,000 each. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

David Silverberg (DEM)

David Silverberg is the Democrat running for State Senate District 28. He is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. His pitch: "David is ready to bring a journalist's integrity and a fighter's determination to the Florida Senate."

Silverberg is a journalist who began blogging as The Paradise Progressive in 2018. He gives three goals. First, "Restore decency, dignity and democracy to Southwest Florida and the nation," and close Alligator Alcatraz: "I will do all I can to see that it's closed and the site restored to Everglades wetlands." Second, make Florida affordable by ending "profiteering, price gouging, and scams" and facing climate change to "bring down risk and insurance rates." Third, protect local governments from state overrides of "local land use restrictions and citizen input." He names no bill or cost for any of the three.

His campaign has raised $10,423, with none of it filed as his own money. The biggest names on file are SILVERBERG ADAM $1,000, SILVERBERG PAUL $1,000 and SHELTON CHRISPIAN $525. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

One seat. District 81 covers part of Collier County, and the choice is between the sitting representative and a challenger.

Yvette Benarroch (REP)

Yvette Benarroch is the sitting Florida House member for District 81, which covers part of Collier County, and she is asking for another term. Her pitch: "Yvette supports term limits for ALL POLITICIANS IN FLORIDA."

Benarroch lists her priorities on her site. She "stands with President Trump and Governor DeSantis to stop illegal immigration," says she is "100% pro-Second Amendment," and opposes what she calls "woke propaganda" in schools. On insurance, she says she has "fought to lower premiums and curb the amount of frivolous litigation." On elections, she "supports mandatory voter ID and making all election crimes a felony." She also backs term limits for all politicians. Her plan is to keep working with fellow conservatives, and the site names no new bills or costs.

She turns up in four places in City Hall's records. The Jun 15, 2026 minutes summarize the City's lobbyist this way: "Ms. Hurley also recognized Representative Yvette Benarroch for her efforts in securing legislative funding for the City." The Sep 3, 2025 minutes summarize that "Manager Barnhart-Tiberio reported that the City's lobbyist, Lisa Hurley, advised early engagement and that State Representative Yvette Benarroch welcomes conversations with Council Members." A June 2026 Community Redevelopment Agency staff report says staff worked "to secure support letters from the community, FL House Representative Yvette Benarroch and FL Senator Kathleen Passidomo" for a grant application. That is the report's wording, not hers. The City's 2026 Legislative Priorities document also lists her among the legislative delegation that received the City's requests.

Her campaign has raised $165,230. Her own money is $22,000: $20,000 moved over from her own campaign account (filed Dec 11, 2024, as YVETTE BENARROCH CAMPAIGN (FLHD81)) plus $2,000 in 2 in-kind entries. The biggest names on file are AGRO-INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT INC $2,000, CHIROPAC PC $2,000 and FLORIDA CPA PAC INC - NORTH $2,000. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Kim Finer (DEM)

Kim Finer is the Democrat challenging for District 81. She is not on the current member lists of Congress or the Florida Legislature. Her pitch: "Kim Finer is bridging the gap with common-sense policies that put Floridians first, focusing on results-driven leadership and shared values."

Finer is a professor with a Ph.D. from Texas A&M, and she sorts her goals into affordability, accountability and accessibility. For affordability, she would "Rethink homeowner's insurance through targeted legislation to reduce costs." For accountability, she would "Reorganize the expanded school voucher program: revise accounting methods to recover lost funds" and "Return local control to communities." For access, she would simplify voter registration, expand early voting and "abolish book bans." Her answers name her steps in a line each, without costs.

Her campaign has raised $25,982. Her own money is $2,947, including $107 in-kind. The biggest names on file are CERRA THOMAS $1,000, SPEDDING RAYMOND $1,000 and SWARD RHONDA $1,000. Nothing has been dated Oct 17 or later.

Most votes on your ballot pit one person against another. This one does not. Justice Carlos G. Muñiz has no opponent, and you are asked a plain question: "Shall Justice Carlos G. Muñiz of the Supreme Court be retained in office?" The choices are YES or NO.

Judges do not campaign on promises, so there is no platform to compare here. What voters have is his record. The court's biography says he was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on January 22, 2019, and became the 89th justice since statehood. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Yale Law School, and he clerked for Judge José A. Cabranes and Judge Thomas A. Flannery. In state government he was deputy general counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush, general counsel of the Department of Financial Services, and deputy attorney general and chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi from 2011 to 2014. Before the court he was general counsel of the U.S. Department of Education.

What a yes vote means. You are keeping the justice on the court.

What a no vote means. You are removing the justice.

Where the facts in the races come from: candidate quotes are copied from each candidate's own campaign site, opened Mon Nov 2, 2026. Money is from the latest filings we could pull, local through Oct 30, state through Oct 24 and federal through Oct 14 plus 48-hour notices through Oct 24, and later reports may add to it. Records come from City of Naples and Collier County files and U.S. House bills and roll calls, which do not cover the U.S. Senate or the Florida Legislature. Governor ticket totals are from the Florida Division of Elections before refunds, and entries such as STATE OF FLORIDA are not listed as donors because the filings do not explain them. Full source links are in the Sources block at the end.

For the first time since 2017, you will be able to book a seat on a scheduled airline flight out of Naples Airport. American Airlines starts two nonstop flights a day between Naples (APF) and Charlotte (CLT) on Wed Dec 2, 2026. American began selling tickets for the route in June.

Picture the trip. From Charlotte you can reach nearly 180 destinations, the airport says. It is a homecoming of sorts. American last served Naples Airport in 2001, and the airport welcomed its last commercial flight in 2017.

The terminal you will walk into is the airport's North Road Terminal, which opened in 1981 and is being renovated. The airport says the new terminal will have a 75-seat waiting area with restrooms, an airline counter, TSA security screening and baggage claim. It has one gate for commercial airlines, and rental car counters. PSA Airlines, an American subsidiary, will fly 65-seat CRJ-700 regional jets.

If you live under the flight path, you want to know about the noise. American has agreed to schedule all flights inside the airport's voluntary quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The agreement says American must "use best efforts to support the voluntary curfew."

Naples Airport Authority (NAA) Executive Director Chris Rozansky put it this way: "Naples Airport welcomed its last commercial flight in 2017, and American's decision to return will give residents of Naples and Collier County a convenient option for business and leisure travel."

Here is how it got here. The NAA board approved the operating agreement at its Thu Oct 15 meeting. The agreement is for one year, with yearly renewals for up to five years, and either side can end it after the first year with 180 days' notice, according to the staff memo. The board's next regular meeting is Thu Nov 19 at 8:30 a.m. in the Airport Office Building, 200 Aviation Drive North.

Here is what the airport expects to earn. The airport's packet estimates the airline would pay about $1,147,089 a year, based on 730 turns and 38,544 boardings. It also estimates $300,000 from parking and $50,000 from rental car concessions.

One shadow hangs over the good news. The airport is in a dispute with the city. On Oct 2, the City of Naples and the NAA tried mediation and did not reach an agreement. Council meets privately about it on Wed Nov 4.

If your water comes from the City of Naples, a fix is coming at the water plant on Fleischmann Boulevard, and you will help pay for it through your water bill. Nothing in the city's papers says the water is unsafe, and no boil notice has been issued.

It started with an inspector's visit. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, or FDEP, inspected the plant on Jun 12, 2025 and sent a warning letter on Jul 9, 2025. State rules call for "4-log" disinfection where treated water is open to the air. That means 99.99 percent of viruses are made inactive. The city's own memo says the plant's current setup does not meet that rule.

So the city and the state worked out a plan. On Wed Oct 21, Council had two items on its consent agenda. One was a compliance agreement with FDEP. The other was a $274,995.56 task order amendment with the engineering firm AECOM for early design work on the upgrade. The city had not posted the result as of Oct 30.

The agreement puts the city on a clock. The city must file quarterly progress reports and, within 30 days, turn in a plan to keep birds and animals out, with design ideas. Construction must start within 150 days after the state issues the construction permit. The new system must be running within 730 days. The agreement sets a $500 payment to the state and $500 a day for any missed deadline.

Who pays? AECOM puts the cost near $5.5 million. The city's capital plan has up to $8 million set aside for water plant work, including water color. The money comes from the water utility's budget, which comes from water bills.

If you want to ask how this will go, City Council meets at City Hall, 735 8th Street South, on Wed Nov 4 or Wed Nov 18 at 8:30 a.m.

If you pay a city stormwater fee, part of what you pay now goes to a loan. In September, the city borrowed about $27 million to help pay for its beach outfall flood project. Stormwater fees will repay it at about $2 million a year until 2046. With interest, the city expects to pay back $40,877,371 in all.

Your fee is heading up. Stormwater fees rise 25 percent a year through 2029. The city has also said it expects two more $50 million stormwater bond sales later, depending on project timing.

Here is how the borrowing went. On Wed Aug 19, Council voted 7 to 0 to allow borrowing of up to $29 million. On Wed Sep 23, the city issued bonds with a face value of $25,800,000. They sold for $1,350,933 more than face value, and the budget lists $27,150,933 outstanding.

What will the whole project cost? The city gives two answers. The budget book puts it at $93 million. The Aug 19 Council minutes give $86 million. The city's budget book and minutes do not say which total is right or why they differ. City Manager Gary Young told Council on Aug 19 that the project was on schedule.

If you want to ask about the cost and the schedule, Council meets on Wed Nov 4 or Wed Nov 18 at 8:30 a.m., at City Hall, 735 8th Street South.

The fire station that covers your part of Naples may be rebuilt. The city is designing a new Fire Station 2 at 977 26th Avenue North to replace a station built in the 1970s. Records differ on the year: 1974 in the Sep 22, 2025 workshop minutes and 1975 in the capital plan.

The new station would have 14 bunk rooms, an emergency operations center and a training tower meant to help keep the city's top fire rating, ISO 1. Fire-Rescue Chief Phillip Pennington leads the department.

What will it cost? About $29 million, based on early cost-per-square-foot numbers. An earlier estimate was $30 million. The city plans to borrow the money and repay it with the public services tax. Finance staff estimated payments of about $1.95 million a year for 20 years. That was an early estimate at 3 percent interest, and it is not approved. Council has not voted on the loan, and we found no vote on any agenda so far.

Here is where it stands. On Wed Sep 24, 2025, Council voted 7 to 0 to hire Wannemacher Jensen Architects to design the station for $1,175,412. On Wed Jun 24, 2026, the Design Review Board gave preliminary approval, 5 to 0, for a 29,766 square foot station.

What comes next, from a May 18, 2026 workshop: design 60 percent done by the end of 2026 and finished about April 2027, bids March to May 2027, and a construction contract in August or September 2027. Where crews will work during construction is still being studied.

If you want a say, you can speak at City Council on Wed Nov 4 or Wed Nov 18 at 8:30 a.m., at City Hall, 735 8th Street South.

If you live in Naples and have never been past the gate on Pelican Bay Boulevard, November is an easy month to start. Artis-Naples is the arts campus that is home to the Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum, and it has a full calendar of nights worth leaving the house for.

The campus has two performance halls, Frances Pew Hayes Hall and Myra J. Daniels Pavilion. It also has the museum and the Stabile Education building. The Philharmonic was founded in 1982, and its page says it normally gives more than 140 orchestral and chamber concerts a year, from September through June.

Start with Broadway. The Philharmonic's Pops series runs Nov 3 to 7, with Jack Everly.

Then try a night of pairs. On Saturday, Nov 7, there are two Super Duos shows, at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., in the Daniels Pavilion. Vocalists Pat Balder and Glen Everhart sing songs by famous pairs, from Sam & Dave and the Everly Brothers to Hall & Oates and Brooks & Dunn.

Or save a Tuesday for the orchestra. On Tuesday, Nov 10 at 7:30 p.m., Associate Conductor Manuel López-Gómez leads An Evening of Overtures in Hayes Hall. The program has nine pieces. They include the overtures to The Barber of Seville and The Abduction from the Seraglio, Bach's Air on the G String and the overture to The Sound of Music.

When and where. Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, FL 34108. Dates and times are on the event pages at artisnaples.org.

If you live in Collier County, Naples Zoo lets you in free on the first Saturday of every month, and the zoo says the reason goes back to an election day in 2004.

Here is the story. The zoo says the Fleischmann estate decided to sell the land under the zoo and its historic garden. The site could have become more houses and shops. Instead, on election day 2004, 73% of Collier County voters backed buying the 44 acres under the zoo. The vote also covered 70 acres of wild land to complete the county's Gordon River Greenway. The zoo credits that vote with saving it.

The zoo began its resident benefits on Jan 10, 2005, as what it calls a way of expressing gratitude. The next free Saturdays are Nov 7, Dec 5 and Jan 2. The zoo's resident page says adults need proof of residency and that you can enter any time up until 3 p.m. A state-issued photo ID with a Collier County address is the easiest proof. If your ID is from somewhere else but you own property in the county, bring a utility or tax bill for that property with a matching name. Visitors under 16 must come with an adult who is at least 18.

The land has a longer story. The zoo's history page says botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling first bought the Naples site in 1919. He wrote in 1904, "It is high time to protect and preserve what is still left in Florida." The zoo says many of his plantings are still there, and it marked 100 years as a garden in 2019.

One date to plan around: the zoo's home page says it closes at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov 13, to get ready for the Zoo Gala.

When and where. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples, FL 34102. Free resident Saturdays: Nov 7, Dec 5 and Jan 2, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. per the zoo's event listing. Zooline: 239-262-5409.

Picture a glass of wine on a dog-friendly patio on Bayshore Drive. That is the idea at Rebecca's, one of the newer places on the street. It is a restaurant, a bar and a wine shop at 2955 Bayshore Dr, and it serves brunch, lunch and dinner.

The restaurant says it is across the street from Celebration Park Naples, in the Bayshore Arts District. It calls itself the newest concept by entrepreneur Rebecca Maddox and describes a 40-foot bar.

Then there is the shop. Three60 Wine @ Rebecca's moved there from Three60 Market across the street, the restaurant says, and now sells hundreds of bottles from around the world. If you want to go further, the Three60 Wine Club offers two tasting lineups a month, with four wines in each. Members get invited to wine club events, and there is a seasonal pause for snowbirds who leave Florida for part of the year.

Chef Darren Veilleux, who was named Best Chef in Naples in 2023 according to the restaurant's site, helped open the place. His favorite dish on the menu is the shrimp curry, which is also one of the top sellers.

A neighbor is also in the news. Opera Naples says it will hold its Nov 15 Welcome Back Party at The Maddox, which it calls "a members-only social venue adjacent to Rebecca's Wine Bar on Bayshore Drive."

When and where. Rebecca's, 2955 Bayshore Dr, Naples, FL 34112. Phone 239.799.1801. Hours: closed Monday; Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.