The Naples Better Government Committee has announced endorsements for the upcoming Naples City Council election, backing four candidates after a full day of interviews and deliberations.

The committee is endorsing Ted Blankenship, incumbent Ray Christman, John Krol and Scott Schultz.

Although three Council seats are up for election this cycle, the committee said it opted to recommend four candidates due to what it described as the overall strength and depth of the field. The group did not endorse the other four candidates: Dan Barone, John Langley, Sally Petersen and Penny Taylor.

According to the committee, members conducted one-on-one interviews with all eight candidates over a six-hour period, beginning in the morning and concluding midafternoon. Following the interviews, committee members spent nearly an hour in closed-door discussion evaluating each candidate’s leadership ability, experience, vision for the city and commitment to Naples.

The Feb. 3 election will help shape the seven-member Naples City Council, which consists of a Mayor and six Council members elected at large on a nonpartisan basis. Council members and the Mayor serve four-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms under the city charter.

The Naples Better Government Committee describes itself as a long-standing civic organization that has conducted candidate evaluations and issued nonpartisan recommendations to voters for decades. The group’s executive board and membership include individuals with backgrounds in business, real estate, law and civic leadership, and members represent both major political parties.

The committee encouraged Naples residents to remain engaged and informed, and actively participate ahead of the municipal election.

“These endorsements reflect our mission to promote transparent, accountable, and effective local government,” Committee President Scott J. Lepore said in a statement. “While we recognize the strengths of every candidate we interviewed, we believe these four individuals are best positioned to serve Naples with integrity, experience, and vision.”

Philip Morris International and its U.S. businesses (PMI U.S.) have invested more than $20 billion since 2022 to acquire, and invest in, U.S. manufacturing capabilities, commercial rights, infrastructure and jobs.

Most of the investments, totaling $19 billion, occurred in 2022, including acquisition of Swedish Match, which generates most of its revenue in the U.S. Since then, PMI U.S. has invested more than $1 billion, as of Sept. 30, including investments in Colorado, Kentucky and North Carolina, which are expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs. Economic impact from those investments is estimated at more than $800 million.

“We’re investing in the country’s future, starting with accelerating the shift to a smoke-free America, a nation free from cigarettes,” PMI U.S. CEO Stacey Kennedy said.

“Being fully invested in America begins with making better products and leading an industry transformation responsibly, but it extends far beyond that. Guided by innovation, a sustained focus on impact, and a deep commitment to the communities where we live and work, we’re creating high-quality, high-skill jobs and strengthening the places that power our workforce.”

PMI U.S. investments add to the more than $35 million in charitable giving the company has pledged since 2022, with nearly $12 million donated in 2025 across nearly 600 nonprofit organizations in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

“PMI U.S. expects to make substantial additional investments in manufacturing, operations, and people, further supporting U.S. jobs and legal-age nicotine consumers — ensuring the 30 million U.S. adults who still smoke cigarettes have access to better, science-based alternatives,” Kennedy said.

PMI U.S. is a major American employer, growing its workforce from just several hundred employees to more than 3,000 today, with a modern mission of establishing modern nicotine to deliver a smoke-free America. The company plans to continue growth and increase its investments following the launch of its IQOS ILUMA product, which is awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization.

The company has committed itself to driving innovation and helping adult smokers 21 and older switch to less harmful alternatives, including heated tobacco.

The company is leading the smoke-free transition in the U.S. through both heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. The company’s affiliates hold 80% of all modified risk tobacco product authorizations and 41% of premarket tobacco product application marketing granted orders from the FDA, including ZYN, the nation’s most popular smoke-free product.

PMI U.S. announced in September it had made $1.3 million in philanthropic efforts in Florida alone in 2021, including advocacy for veterans, supporting literacy and funding student scholarships through the state’s school choice programs.

That includes a $100,000 donation to the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund for its Critical Dental Assistance Program providing vital dental services to disabled veterans across the state.

In November, PMI U.S. entered into a partnership with the Urban League of Broward County with a $400,000, three-year donation designed to expand economic opportunity for small businesses and accelerate economic development across South Florida.