Cannon steps down as East Naples Fire Board chair

2005 Swamp Buggy, Inc. Board of Directors Tom Cannon outgoing president

Thomas Cannon stepped down as chairman of the East Naples Fire Board amid a budget shortfall that has forced his fire district to implement mandatory furloughs for firefighters.

Cannon, who has served as chairman for 22 years, will remain a commissioner on the board for the East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District, but will no longer run the meetings.

Cannon, 57, said it¹s time to let someone else serve.

Robert Boyer was elected chairman in his place.

Chris Tobin, the president representing East Naples' firefighters union, has repeatedly criticized Cannon for a "lack of accountability" to firefighters and East Naples residents. Tobin has repeatedly said Cannon runs fire board meetings as if it were the "Tom Cannon Fire District."

However, Donna Fiala, a Collier County commissioner whose district includes parts of East Naples, has praised Cannon for his fiscal responsibility. She credits Cannon, who runs a private accounting firm, for helping guide the fire district through its difficult budget crisis.