IN THIS UPDATE: Collier County declares Oct. 14 Charlie Kirk Day; commissioners approve new private beach club in North Naples; Florida House debuts new property tax cut bills; and more.
1. Collier County declares Oct. 14 Charlie Kirk Day
“I think it was important for us to recognize as a community that he did make contributions,” Collier Commissioner Burt Saunders said, explaining the decision. “His contributions needed to be recognized.” (Gulf Coast News, 10/14/25)
2. Collier commissioners unanimously approve new private beach club in North Naples
Collier commissioners unanimously approved plans for a members-only beach club in North Naples overlooking Vanderbilt Beach. Members will be shuttled to the club, except those who are handicapped and require parking. Additionally, transportation services would be provided to employees. (Naples Daily News, 10/15/25)
3. Collier County expands affordable housing incentives
After nearly a decade of work, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 unanimously approved a set of new affordable housing incentives. They’re part of an ordinance that amends the county’s land development code, integrating affordable housing initiatives into its growth-management plan, reflecting its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development. (Gulfshore Business, 10/20/25)
4. Collier pledges $6.9M for Bonita Estero Rail Trail
The pledge follows an initial pledge of $900,000 last year and represents half of what the county could eventually pledge. The first phase of BERT consists of an 11.4-mile unused rail corridor from Wiggins Pass Road in Collier County to Estero Parkway in Lee County that would be converted into a public trail as part of a statewide network. (Gulfshore Business, 10/17/25)
5. News from District 1 Commissioner Rick LoCastro
In this update: the Costco vote and approval; affordable housing facts; Immokalee infrastructure ribbon cutting; marina stores; South Naples citrus grove on Sabal Palm Road; Sandpiper stoplight; and more. (Commissioner’s Report, 10/21/25)
Collier County Public Schools News
6. News from Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli
In this update: CCPS recognizes October as National Bullying Prevention Month; Champions for Learning seeks mentors for the next Take Stock in Children class; CCPS and the Collier County Education Association continue working on teacher salary negotiations; 10/15 School Board meeting recap; and more. (CCPS News + Notes, 10/17/25)
Naples Airport Authority News
7. Local pilots like new runway approach angles
Business jets and other aircraft approaching Naples Airport have begun following new flight paths designed to reduce noise in neighborhoods surrounding the airport. The airport will now measure how well the new flight paths reduce noise. Local residents can register noise complaints at flynaples.com/noise/comment. (The Naples Press, 10/17/25)
Florida Government News
8. Florida House debuts new property tax cut bills
Answering Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call to slash property taxes, the Florida House released a series of bills designed to do so, ranging from eliminating taxes for all homestead property owners to lowering the cap on growth in assessed value. Most would appear on the 2026 general election ballot, and voters would have the final say. (USA Today Network - Florida via Tallahassee Democrat, 10/16/25)
9. Judge temporarily blocks transfer of downtown Miami land for Trump’s presidential library
Marvin Dunn, an activist and chronicler of local Black history, filed a lawsuit this month against the Board of Trustees for Miami Dade College, a state-run school that owned the property. He alleges that the board violated Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law by not providing sufficient notice for its special meeting on Sept. 23, when it voted to give up the land. (Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News via NBC Miami, 10/14/25)
10. Florida AG to defend Miami Dade College after court temporarily blocks Trump library
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office is jumping in to defend Miami Dade College in what he’s calling a “bogus lawsuit,” and CFO Blaise Ingoglia has also filed a request to join the lawsuit on the college’s behalf. (Miami Herald, 10/16/25)
11. Trump Presidential Library nonprofit dissolved — just before Miami land transfer
The Donald Trump Presidential Library Fund Inc., a nonprofit set up to support the library, went inactive in September, leaving questions about its funds. Shortly after, the Trump family established a new nonprofit, the Donald Trump Presidential Library Foundation, Inc., which was named the recipient of prime Miami land for the library. (WLRN Public Media, 10/16/25)
12. Ron DeSantis defends constitutionality of ‘political gerrymandering’
“The Constitution says nothing about political gerrymandering, which is why the Court has found such claims to be non-justiciable,” DeSantis said in a post on X. While that’s true of the federal Constitution, the Florida Constitution says in part, “No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.” (Florida Politics, 10/14/25)
13. State lawmakers and county commissioners debate board structure, forecasting a growing fight
Should county boards be represented by at-large seats or be broken down by set districts? The debate is part of a growing conflict between local officials fighting for home rule against the state of Florida. (Florida Politics, 10/15/25)
14. U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to Florida’s closed primaries
Michael J. Polelle, a former lawyer and emeritus professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, was upset after learning that, as a no-party voter, he was shut out of County Commission Primaries because of the state’s closed system. “I never realized that my real estate taxes go to pay for these primaries that I can’t vote in. And that makes no sense to me,” he said. (Florida Politics, 10/20/25)
15. Florida targets states over immigrant truck drivers
After a deadly crash in August on Florida’s Turnpike, state Attorney General James Uthmeier is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent California and Washington from issuing licenses to commercial truck drivers who are not in the country legally. The move came amid high-profile disputes between the Trump administration and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom about immigration-enforcement issues. (News Service of Florida via Sun Sentinel, 10/16/25)
16. Could Medicaid expansion fill Florida’s gap when Obamacare tax credits expire?
Florida could be the hardest-hit state when the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire at the end of the year, in part because the state has long refused to expand Medicaid. But as advocates raise alarms about Floridians on the brink of losing health care, the state’s Republican lawmakers say they are still firm in their opposition to expansion. (Tampa Bay Times, 10/16/25)
17. Amid Hope Florida grand jury probe, key questions still unanswered
Whose idea was it? How involved were the DeSantises? What was the $10 million ultimately spent on? What, if anything, was illegal? and more. (Tampa Bay Times, 10/18/25)
18. Records reveal details of DeSantis’ campaign against abortion and marijuana amendments
Ron DeSantis employed campaign strategists as subcontractors, bent procurement rules, and took millions from reserves in a taxpayer-funded ad campaign against two citizen-led ballot measures last year. (Jason Garcia: Seeking Rents, 10/19/25)
19. News from State House District 82 Rep. Lauren Melo
In this update: State House Page and Messenger Program; proposals from the House Select Committee on Property Taxes; and “Connect With Me!” (From the Desk of Rep. Lauren Melo, 10/21/25)
2026 Election News: In the Governor’s Race
20. Byron Donalds continues to dominate Jay Collins, Paul Renner in GOP Primary Poll
A new St. Pete Polls survey shows Donalds would win more than 39% of the vote in a Republican Primary against Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who has less than 4% support, and former House Speaker Paul Renner, who has less than 3%. While more than half of likely Republican Primary voters remain undecided, the Naples Republican continues to massively outperform either of the two high-profile Republicans most likely to appear on the Primary ballot next year. (Florida Politics, 10/16/25)
In the Naples City Council Race
21. News from the City Clerk
Election Day is Feb. 3, 2026. The qualifying period runs from Dec. 5 - Dec. 15, 2025. Candidates who have filed to date are Dan Barone, Raymond R. Christman, Daija Renee Hinojosa, John J. Krol, John A. Langley, Scott T. Schultz, and Penny Taylor. (Naples Clerk, 10/21/25)
Corrections (October 15 Digest)
Two factual errors appeared in last week’s issue and have been corrected online.
News item #5 quoted an article that misstated the number of new apartments expected to open in the Naples area by the end of 2025. The correct number of units is 3,161.
News item #8 incorrectly said Commissioner Chris Hall represents District 1. He represents District 2.
More online
Sparker’s Digest is part of the Sparker’s Soapbox platform, a nonpartisan civic-information resource for Collier County voters.
Sparker’s Soapbox also includes Sparker’s Primers, introductory guides to Florida and Collier County civics, and Sparker’s Research, in-depth election-year looks at the candidates and ballot issues on Collier voters’ ballots.
