Meet the Candidates for Seat Two of the Greater Naples Fire District

The Greater Naples Fire Department serves a vast network of Collier County communities - offering crucial fire protection, emergency medical services, and safety education. In 2023, GNFD responded to over 30,000 calls for service, ensuring quick responses to emergencies like fires and medical situations. Besides handling emergencies, GNFD also focuses on fire prevention and community safety through outreach programs. Incumbents Al Duffy, Wayne Martin, and Stanley Bunner Jr. are running for the Seat Two position that oversees East Naples. 

While the General Election takes place on November 5, early voting begins as early as Monday, October 21. Please visit Colliervotes.com for more information.

Introductory statements and question responses are listed alphabetically.

Introductory Statement Provided by Stanley Bunner Jr. 

I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986 and was directly commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy in 1994. For over 37 years, I have served in various roles in the Army, Navy, and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as an active-duty member, in reserve status, and as a civilian employee. I have served in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, including two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. I have been a civilian field office chief for DIA and commanded three Navy units, with responsibilities for training and equipping hundreds of personnel and managing budgets exceeding $840,000. I have practiced law in Naples since 2000, both independently and in three firms. I plan to retire as a Captain in January 2025 and want to serve the local community.

Introductory Statement Provided by Incumbent Al Duffy

I have been a Naples resident for 39 years, having moved here from New York in September of 1985. My fire service career spanned from 1981 to 2019, starting as a volunteer firefighter on Long Island, New York, with the Hagerman Fire Department. When I arrived in Naples, I volunteered with both the East Naples and Marco Island Fire Departments until I was hired as a Firefighter/EMT in the City of Naples, working there from 1986 to 1989. I then became a Firefighter/EMT with the North Naples Fire Control & Rescue District in July 1989, holding ranks from Engineer to Battalion Chief. I served as Secretary and President of the North Naples Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2297 and obtained an AS degree in Fire Science in December 2006. Throughout the years, I have been actively involved in public safety and have a strong sense of community. I am seeking re-election as Fire Commissioner with the Greater Naples Fire District to continue serving the community and staying involved in the public safety field.

Introductory Statement Provided by Wayne Martin

I have over 40 years in the fire service, having come up through the ranks and serving over 15 years as Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director. I am fiscally responsible and will ask the tough questions to do the right thing for both taxpayers and firefighters. I take my fiduciary role very seriously and will bring conservative principles when it comes to approving and monitoring the budget. I have written over $4 million in grants, designed and purchased apparatus, and built a cost-effective Public Safety Complex for law enforcement, fire, and EMS. As a resident, I have attended board meetings of the district and understand the inner workings of the district. My personal reason for running is that I am in contribution mode. I ask for the public's vote and point out that Wayne J. Martin is third on the ballot.

How do you plan to connect with the East Naples community to boost awareness about fire prevention and safety?

Bunner Jr.: I don't see the role of a commissioner as an advisor to the Fire Chief and district staff for day-to-day operations. I know they already have outreach initiatives with local community associations and groups to help educate children, and I fully support and encourage these efforts.

Duffy: Our Fire and Life Safety Division at Greater Naples Fire Rescue provides various programs to educate the public about fire prevention and safety. As a fire commissioner, I support this division in securing funding to provide the personnel and programs needed to continue educating residents.

Martin: The fire district has a Public Information Officer whose role includes raising community awareness through social media and face-to-face contact. This role should be expanded to include public education on fire prevention and safety. Fire commissioners should actively participate in community organizations, attending meetings of the East Naples Civic and Commerce Association, the Golden Gate Civic Association, and the Golden Gate Estates Area Association. Relationships must also be built with the Board of County Commissioners, City Councils, and Fire District Commissioners.

What’s your strategy for ensuring the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District delivers top-notch emergency medical services alongside fire response?

Bunner Jr.: I disagree with the notion that the district is not delivering top-notch emergency medical services. While there were some personnel issues early in 2024, they were isolated incidents and do not indicate a widespread problem. We want to encourage our personnel to pursue as much training and certification as possible, strengthening incentives for them to do so.

Duffy: This year, we entered into a COPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) with Collier County, allowing our firefighter-paramedics to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) care. This ensures immediate medical care, especially when a Collier County EMS unit is responding from a distance. Our EMTs and paramedics receive top-level training to continue providing these services to residents. As a fire commissioner, I will support the funding necessary for this program.

Martin: The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District currently responds with Collier County Emergency Medical Services on all medical calls. It's important to implement Emergency Medical Dispatch or Priority Dispatch to ensure the right resources are sent to aid the public.

What ideas do you have for ongoing training for our firefighters and EMTs to prepare them for various emergency situations?

Bunner Jr.: Like community outreach, I don't believe it’s the commissioners' role to bring ideas for training to district staff. Commissioners are responsible for overseeing compliance with state and federal mandates and ensuring proper financing through budget oversight. They do not fight fires or train firefighters—nor should they. The focus should be on providing quality services consistent with regulations at a reasonable cost.

Duffy: When I was elected in 2021, I pushed for the board to secure property for a training facility. We acquired 10 acres on White Lake Blvd. for this project, which we hope to accomplish in the next few years. Training is crucial for our personnel to maintain their firefighting and medical skills and having a training facility in the district will keep our apparatus and personnel local instead of going elsewhere for training.

Martin: The firefighters and EMTs are the greatest asset of the fire district. They need proper training facilities to hone their skills. We can develop joint training facilities to serve multiple agencies on a county-wide basis.

How will you handle the budget to keep services strong while exploring new funding options?

Bunner Jr.: It seems funding for the district has increased significantly over the last decade, and projections for the coming years should be adequate for the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. The challenge may be the temptation to overspend on new facilities and equipment rather than a lack of funding options. I see constructing a new training facility as a top priority to improve services in the coming years.

Duffy: When I was elected, I saw the need to increase district funding to rebuild our infrastructure and build new firehouses to keep up with growth. The voters approved a 0.5 mill increase for the next eight years, allowing the district to start receiving needed funding for capital improvement projects starting in FY 2025-2026. Our only funding source is the ad valorem taxes paid by homeowners, and the current millage rate of 1.5 mills has been inadequate for our strategic goals.

Martin: All programs must be reviewed for value and cost-effectiveness—some call it zero-based budgeting. We need an aggressive plan to ensure adequate reserves are built up to maintain the fire district. Reserves are essential for covering expenses and salaries in the initial months of a new budget, and a rainy-day fund is necessary for unforeseen emergencies. Additionally, we need to save for capital expenses when the eight-year tax increase sunsets.

Looking ahead, how do you see the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District adapting to meet the needs of the East Naples community?

Bunner Jr.: I believe the future should involve further consolidation of fire and EMS personnel, training, and agencies to decrease response times and improve service at a lower cost. The 2016 study indicated that only 1% of fire agency responses involved fires, while 84% were medical. Our equipment acquisition and utilization should reflect this reality. I am running to bring strategic-level planning from outside firefighting and EMS to avoid the “this is the way we have always done it” mindset.

Duffy: With voter approval of the millage increase, the district will be able to adapt to the needs of the East Naples community, which will continue to grow. This funding will allow us to construct the facilities needed to better serve residents.

Martin To address the long-term needs of East Naples and Collier County, it's time to consider merging or consolidating the three remaining fire districts—Greater Naples, North Collier, and Immokalee—into one Collier Naples Fire Rescue agency. This would provide a fixed tax rate county-wide and create economies of scale. Discussions should be opened between the fire districts to determine when this merger can take place.