On Monday, May 18, the six Marco Island City Council members will consider applicants for an open seventh seat, the second time in a year.
This seat, left vacant by the death of long-time Councilor Erik Brechnitz, will expire with the Nov. 3 general election when Brechnitz’s term expires, along with two other seats.
The last time the council had to fill a seat was in 2024 – right after four new councilors had been elected. It took four months to fill, from November 2024 to March 2025, with multiple special meetings and 3-3 votes. Finally, Rene Champagne was chosen to fill the seat by a 6-0 vote.
Chairman Darrin Palumbo said it’s not going to go that way this time. He told his fellow councilors to be ready to nominate and vote on May 18. The council gave residents a week to apply for the position.
Who applied for the vacant city council seat?
Marco Island city council applicants include a former councilor, a life-long local who is a real-estate agent, a retired airline captain, a chemical engineer, an IT specialist, president of a local Corvette club and a retired corporate executive.
Palumbo instructed each councilor to interview candidates individually this week after the May 11 filing deadline.
The position of Marco Island City Council member pays $6,000 a year; the chairman makes $9,000 a year. The councilors’ salaries have remained the same since Marco Island became a city in 1997.
So, who are the eight applicants?
Rich Blonna
First, there’s Blonna, a former Marco Island councilor who served one four-year term. He and then-incumbent Becky Irwin both lost a 2024 bid for re-election.
Blonna is a retired professor emeritus from the Department of Public Health at William Paterson University of New Jersey. He also ran two small businesses and is an author of college textbooks and self-help books with a focus on “understanding how the mind and body work together to promote health and prevent disease.”
In his application, Blonna said he wants to return to the city council because “I love the city and loved the job when I was a City Councilor. I’d like to continue the good work I did when I sat on the City Council.”
John Aguis
Aguis is a current member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee, the Italian American Society of Marco Island and Marco HAMS (emergency communications), according to his application.
A resident for more than 15 years, Aguis’ LinkedIn page shows he is an IT specialist with BTG Pactual, an investment bank headquartered in Brazil. He also is a part-time event concierge at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort.
“I feel I can bring a much-needed objective and balanced view to the council,” Aguis wrote on his application. “I have served in small to exceptionally large corporations throughout my career and know how to evaluate risk vs. need and how to request and collect the proper information and data to address a request or issue. My M&A experience brings skills to negotiate and find common ground which Ifeel is another much needed trait for council. I would love to be able to bring my many experiences to the City of Marco Island and help the city grow smarter and better!”
Christopher Boehringer
Boehringer is a chemical engineer who was president of Boehringer Engineering LP, which he started in 1999 and folded in 2017 after flooding from Hurricane Harvey, according to his resume and application.
Boehringer said he has been a Marco Island resident five to 10 years.”I feel I can add much value to the City Counsel (sic). My background not only includes working for major chemical and engineering companies but also includes forming and managing my own consulting company,” Boehringer wrote on his application. “My focus has always been in the scope and evaluation as well as the management of major capital projects. I feel I can especially be of value to the city investigating Water Treatment Systems and Projects. Also, I feel I can be of value on any other City improvement projects and contractor evaluations as well as capital budgeting.”
Anthony Costantino
Costantino wrote that he has lived on Marco Island for more than 15 years and is president of the Marco Island Corvette Club. He hasn’t served on any city committees or boards. He didn’t include a resume with his application.
Why does he want to serve on the city council? “To represent the residents,” he wrote.
What issues does the council need to address? “Water and noise (pollution), short term rentals, traffic issues,” he said.
Kevin Dohm
Dohm, who has lived on Marco Island more than 15 years, is a pilot, still working part-time in general aviation, according to his resume. He is a corporate and airline pilot with 50 years in aviation, including 30 years as a captain for United Airlines and decades of concurrent corporate aviation experience. He has more than 30,000 flight hours “with extensive time in large and heavy jets.”Dohm has served on the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Citizens Advisory Committee, Collier County MPO Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Marco Island AD HOC Bicycle Committee, Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation, Marco Island Police Foundation and the Marco Island Historical Society.
“I want to serve on the Marco Island City Council because I care deeply about our community and its future,” he wrote on his application. “I’m committed to protecting the quality of life that makes Marco Island special while supporting responsible growth, strong local businesses, protecting our unique environment with complete transparency in government. Most importantly I want a voice for residents and help ensure our city continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Anthony Oliverio
Oliverio, is a real estate agent who has lived on Marco Island more than 15 years. He is vice Chair of the Ad-hoc Business and Redevelopment Advisory Committee.
Why does he want to be on the city council?
“We need an individual on City Council who has been a long-time resident of this community, someone who understands the history, someone that is in business here, someone who has owned all types of property here, and someone who has engaged with different departments of city staff for years on different property related issues. I am “younger in age” than the others in council and feel that I can bring a different perspective to council. I want to help be a part of beautifying this Island and fixing the issues we currently face now and in the future.”
Chris Ricci
Ricci is president and chief executive officer of Impel Advantage, Inc. insurance provider. Before that, he was in strategic consulting 2017-2023 in California. He was senior vice president at automotive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) Nio Inc. 2015-2017 and vice president at manufacturing services company Flextronics Inc. 2011-2015. He has lived on Marco Island three to four years, according to his application.
Ricci is chairman of the Marco Island Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee and is a member of the city’s Audit Committee. He is a member of multiple civic groups including as commander of the Marco Island Power and Sail Squadron and board member on two homeowners’ associations.
“Serving on the City Council of Marco Island would give me the opportunity to help protect and strengthen the community I care deeply about while addressing the long-term challenges facing our island,” Ricci wrote on his application. “Marco Island is a unique coastal community whose future depends on responsible leadership, environmental stewardship, and thoughtful planning. I want to serve because I believe I can bring practical solutions, strong advocacy, and a long-term vision to the decisions that will shape our city for generations to come.”
Rick Woodworth
Rick Woodworth said he has lived full time on Marco Island since 2017. He built his career in Chicago at The Habitat Company, a private real-estate development and management firm he joined in 1973. He served as president, managing director and partner, according to his resume.
He has served as a member of the city’s Waterways Advisory Committee and its Audit Advisory Committee. He is co-founder and partner in Clean Marco Waters, LLC., a community-based water quality advocacy group, and member of the Italian American Society of Marco Island.
“After nearly a decade living on Marco Island, I believe that I can contribute to solving the issues facing our island,” Woodworth wrote on his application. “Our canals are impaired. Our wastewater has been ignored and maintaining other infrastructure has been deferred for too long. Our budget process has drifted. And too many decisions are being made without the financial rigor, technical scrutiny, or resident-first perspective that Marco Island deserves. I believe I can bring all three to the Council table on day one. I also believe I bring something Marco Island specifically needs right now: independence. I have no business interests on Marco Island (other than one rental boat slip) no clients before the city, no development projects in the pipeline, no contractor relationships, and no professional ties to anyone who does business with the city. I am not running to advance an agenda for anyone but the residents who live here full-time, the businesses that serve the residents and pay the taxes that fund this government. That independence — combined with the executive, financial, and fiduciary skills I have spent a career developing – is what I intend to put to work for Marco Island.”
November general election includes three seats
Whoever is selected for the open seat by the city council will either have to run for the seat in November or step down.
Two other seats, held by Palumbo and by Champagne, are up as well.
The Marco Island City Council election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Eight apply for open Marco council seat; meeting on candidates Monday
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Marco Eagle
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