Bill Barnett on Naples Potpourri

Bill Barnett

I have no idea where the time is going, but as I get older it seems to fly by, and here we are about to partake in a busy winter season in The City of Naples and surrounding areas. It has always amazed me that I can take a summer vacation and head out of our City for a few months and return to find new buildings and restaurants that weren’t there when I left. Such has been the story for my almost 53 years of living in the City of Naples. I’m not sure I make the old timer list yet because I know quite a few people who have been here longer than I have, but I’m getting there!

Once again, it’s time for a City Council election and at the time of writing this article there are nine candidates for three available seats. Nine Candidates? I have never seen anything like it and having served for 12 years as a Council member and sixteen years as Mayor this is a new record for applicants. The next question I have to ask myself is why? Is it because of the growth in Collier County, or dissatisfaction with the way the City has been run since the last Council election two years ago? Or maybe there are some retired folks looking for something to do and this just might be fun, or some young professionals that really want to make a difference in how our City is run and are unhappy with what they have witnessed. I don’t know!

However, with what’s been said in the above paragraph I strongly feel that this is going to be a very interesting election and depending on whom we elect it will make a huge difference in the way our City is governed. Therefore, at this time I am going to put all my efforts in to support three candidates that I think would do an outstanding job. Anybody that “throws their hat in the ring “deserves credit for doing so, it’s a big commitment so kudos to you. The following are my selections for our upcoming City Council election, February 3, 2026.

Ray Christman is a sitting City Council member. He is a rock-solid candidate who fully understands the issues that our City is dealing with. He is knowledgeable and well respected by our City citizens. He is approachable and his track record on Council speaks for itself. I had the great pleasure of serving with Ray when I was the former Mayor.

Daija Hinojosa (pronounced ee-no-HO-suh) is a Sun Terrace resident where she lives with her husband of 18 years and their dog. I have met her at some political events in the past, but she really impressed me when in 2022 she ran for a seat on the County Commission because of a passion for defending constitutional rights and respect for individual sovereignty. Although she didn’t win, the experience gave her a real view of how the local government operates and what it looks like when it stops working for the people. She is no stranger to rallying boots on the ground. Daija has worked and volunteered on local, state, and federal campaigns. She started out working in retail operations and graduated to working with and is a consultant for executives in many fields. Her platform focuses on restoring trust in City Government and defending homeowners’ rights. She is also in favor of cutting burdensome regulations and bringing back servant leadership, respect, and a high regard for all of our neighbors. I will add this about Daija. She is a candidate that you must get to know, so reach out to her and ask questions, you, like me, will be impressed!

Dan Barone fits the bill for being elected in February for a City Council seat. He is the type of candidate that will add new leadership, which is needed because it will take someone that can deal with the rapid pace of change that we are seeing, and, in my opinion, Dan can do that job. He is the kind of individual who has the foresight to not just react to growth but can see what Naples can be without losing the character that made us all move here in the first place. Dan brings a unique perspective to this campaign. Being a long-time resident he is deeply familiar with Naples. He understands that common-sense leadership means planning for the long haul. He wants to ensure that vital projects, such as upgrading our stormwater infrastructure and other resiliency efforts get done now, not put off or delayed by political debates. In my opinion he will be the candid common sense Council Member who offers that long term commitment. Dan is married and has two children that attend Collier County Schools. He has lived in the City of Naples for twenty years and is a CPA.

So, take this article and tape it to your fridge. It might come in handy! If you get the chance to reach out and meet these candidates,
it will be worthwhile.

For you returning snowbirds have a great upcoming season!

Enjoy your winter.

All the Best,
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
239-777-7952
I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com