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BILL BARNETT It’s Your Chance to Make a Difference

ecember is the time of year that seems to be here and gone. waiting to be completed that just go back and forth and progress has
I hope all of you had a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry been stagnant because consensus among council members is just not
DChristmas plus any other holidays that you celebrate! there. Don’t get me wrong, we do have some good Council members
Happy New Year! As 2026 rolls in, The City of Naples is getting on our Council, however they are in the minority way too much and
ready for a City Council Election in February that will definitely have that will change with this election, and you have the opportunity to
an impact on the future of our city. In my last article for December, I put the new candidates in the majority.
endorsed three candidates that I felt would make great additions to It's rare that I am repetitive when I do my articles because there is
our Council. Politics are always changing and between that article and always something going on in Naples and Collier County. However,
now there was one noticeable change. My candidate Daija Hinojosa I will repeat the two candidates that I endorsed in last month’s Life
has withdrawn in order to back candidate Dan Barone and become in Naples and I have added a candidate who I think will be a terrific
his Campaign Manager. Daija will be a good candidate when her addition to our City Council. His name is John Langley, and I have
time comes to run for office in the future. There are eight candidates had the chance to meet him and I’m fortunate to have known a
for THREE council seats at the time of this writing and we started member of his family for many years. There is no doubt in my mind
with nine. that he is a true leader, family man, and totally committed to our
The biggest issue of all is getting out to vote. We have no excuses Naples community. He has been a Naples resident since 2002, and
other than sheer laziness for not voting next month, February 3rd. rather than printing out a lengthy list of his many accomplishments,
You are the ones that will help shape our city for the future! We awards, and his community engagements in our City of Naples I
can’t use any of the following excuses for not voting: I got caught would suggest that if you haven’t met him or had a chance to contact
in that snowstorm, I got stuck and couldn’t get out of my driveway, him, please do so. Since there are a multitude of candidate forums this
my snowblower wouldn’t start, too much ice on the trees, it’s way month there is no reason not to attend at least one. In December’s
too cold, the roads are too slippery, and I can’t deal with the wind Life in Naples, I wrote brief summaries of two candidates that I
chill! I know there are more, but you can’t use them in sunny Naples, support. They are Candidate Dan Barone and Candidate and current
Florida. I’m not saying there aren’t valid reasons for not being able to Council member Ray Christman. Add John Langley to the list and
vote, but this year there is no early voting, so it just takes a little more the voters in the City of Naples will have done their homework and
preparation. It’s just not the importance of getting out to vote. It’s be pleased with the results! I have lived in the City of Naples for 53
equally important to do a little homework and check these candidates years and I can say that this upcoming election is one of the most
out. They will all have brochures explaining why they are suited to be important elections that has ever occurred in the City. Please get out
elected. You literally can’t just look at a pretty campaign brochure and and VOTE!
say, “Oh he or she looks like they would be a good choice”. Believe it I wish you all a Happy, Healthy New Year and how fortunate
or not I have seen it happen, and it leads to a rough couple of years we are to live in Naples, Florida.
after the election and you realize this candidate is miles away from All the Best,
being who he or she is based on that brochure. Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
Anyone who lives in the City of Naples and follows city politics 239-777-7952
realizes just how important February 3rd, 2026, election day in I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com
The City of Naples is and just how important it is to pick the right
candidates for this election. Our city is in a critical state with projects

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