Ed Danko is a candidate for Palm Coast City Council, District 1–the seat first-term Councilman Bob Cuff elected not to run for again. The seat also drew Sims Jones and Lou Salvagio. Danko, like other members of the local Trump Club, declined to participate in the interview.
The mayor’s seat and three council seats are up this year. Mayor Milissa Holland is in a five-way race. Councilman Nick Klufas is running for a second term. And Councilman Jack Howell has resigned, requiring a special election in conjunction with November’s election. So the council will have at least two new faces by November, and possibly four. Between the 2016 and 2018 elections, all five seats turned over.
None of the candidates in the District 1 race have held public office before.
This is a non-partisan, at-large election. That means all registered voters in Palm Coast, regardless of party or non-party affiliation–Democrats, Republicans, independents and others–may cast a ballot for Palm Coast mayor or council. If a candidate for mayor wins 50 percent plus one vote or more in the Aug. 18 primary, then that candidate is the outright winner and mayor, making a runoff unnecessary. But if none of the candidates manages that majority, then the top two candidates with the most votes will go on to contest the Nov. 3 general election.
The Palm Coast mayor and council members serve four years. They’re paid $9,600 a year, $11,400 for the mayor. The council members and the mayor also each get a $1,200 car allowance and a $910 communication allowance each year, so in sum council members’ total pay is $11,710, the mayor’s is $13,510.
FlaglerLive submitted identical questions to all candidates, with the understanding that additional questions might be tailored to candidates individually and some follow-up questions may be asked, with all exchanges conducted by email and on the record. The Live Interview’s aim is to elicit as much candor and transparency as possible. We have asked candidates to refrain from making campaign speeches or make lists of accomplishments. We have also asked candidates to reasonably document any claim or accusation. Undocumented claims are edited out. Answers are also edited for length, redundancy, relevance and, where possible, accuracy. If a candidate does not answer a question or appears to be evading a question, that’s noted.
But it’s ultimately up to the reader to judge the quality and sincerity of a candidate’s answers.
The Questions in Summary: Quick Links
- Basics
- Priorities
- Concerns
- Budget
- Coronavirus
- Taxes
- Aging Palm Coast
- Housing
- Economic development
- Matt Morton
- Council dynamics
- Policing
- Character
- Social media
- Rap sheet
Place and Date of Birth:
Current job:
Party Affiliation:
Financial Disclosures:
Resume:
Website:
Jill Woolbright, District 1 Carol Bacha (Mother Elizabeth) Colleen Conklin, District 3 Paul Mucciolo, District 3 Maria Barbosa, District 5 Dave Sullivan, District 3 Donald O'Brien, District 5 Bob Jones, District 5 Don Greene Milissa Holland Alan Lowe Michael Schottey Sims Jones (Dist. 1) Ed Danko (Dist. 1) Nick Klufas (Dist. 3) Cornelia Manfre (Dist. 3) Zack Shapiro (Dist. 3) See The Observer's Speedy Candidate Interviews |
1. What are your top three policy priorities that you pledge will realistically be accomplished by the end of your first term. If they cost money, how do you propose to fund those priorities?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
2. Cite three issues or concerns that in your view the city is addressing poorly or not at all, and explain how you intend to convince the council to change course.
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
3. The city’s budget, like all local government budgets, will likely face revenue shortfalls in the next two years. How will you make up the lost revenue? Short of new sources of revenue, what areas of the budget are ripe for cuts? Please be specific.
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
4. Evaluate the city’s response to the coronavirus emergency. As of this writing, the city, unlike a growing list of local governments across Florida, has not mandated the use of masks in public places, though it’s in the council’s power to do so. Tell us how you’d vote on a mask mandate, and explain your answer, citing appropriate authorities.
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
5. Palm Coast has the authority to impose a public service tax on your utility bill of up to 10 percent, and a franchise fee on utilities, which would be passed to customers, of up to 10 percent. The money may be spent at the council’s discretion. Many counties and cities around the state partially or fully levy one or both the taxes. Palm Coast considered imposing a 6 percent electric franchise fee and a 2 percent public service tax in 2012, but reversed course in the face of strong public opposition. Either of the new taxes, proponents argue, would diversify the city’s revenue stream. Either could be used to generate revenue that would otherwise have to be generated by property taxes, though the public service tax and the franchise fee are regressive in comparison. Where do you stand on either new tax becoming part of Palm Coast’s taxing structure?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
6. Just in the last 10 years, Palm Coast has grown by 15,000 people, but it has grown older, with people 65 and older representing nearly 28 percent of the population, up from 23 percent in 2010. That’s a substantial increase, almost all of it as the proportion of school-age children has diminished: the school district’s population has remained at around 13,000 for 10 years. Should Palm Coast encourage that accelerating retirement-community trend? What would you do to ensure that Palm Coast is addressing the needs of its growing elderly population. Alternately, what would you do to reverse the trend, if you’re more interested in broadening the working-age population base?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
7. Some apartment complexes have gone up in the past two years, but the city still faces an affordable housing shortfall as housing prices have risen steadily. How do you propose to diversify Palm Coast’s housing options? By what criteria would you approve or reject apartment complexes? Would you approve raising the density and height of multi-family, or apartment, structures in select areas of the city zoned for the purpose?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
8. Everyone talks economic development. Few elected officials do more than talk. How have you been, or how will you be, different, starting with your definition of economic development?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
9. Evaluate the transition from ex-City Manager Jim Landon to City Manager Matt Morton: what was lost, what was gained, what could have been done better, what has been done better?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
10. Mayor Milissa Holland, Council member Nick Klufas and to a lesser extent Council member Bob Cuff were elected on promises of change and novel visions four years ago. Evaluate their performance, their successes and shortcomings, and tell us if you think they’ve lived up to their promise. What will you bring to the council that they don’t? If you’re one of the incumbents, evaluate your own successes and shortcomings, with specifics, telling us why you’re better suited to continue than any of your challengers.
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
11. Palm Coast relies on the sheriff for policing. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of that contract, and tell us what specifically you would change about it. Are some areas of Palm Coast less effectively policed than others? Do you favor an independent police department for the city, now or in the near future?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
12. Elected office is no stranger to bluster. Tell us about you as a person: your character, your temperament, your foibles. Tell us who do you admire most in office today among elected officials in Flagler County—the person you’d consider a model of leadership.
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
13. Should you be held to account for what you display on your social media pages any differently than for what you would say anywhere public? Do you have different standards of behavior between the way you’d conduct yourself as an elected official—in a meeting, at an official function—as opposed to on your social media platforms?
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
14. Have you ever been charged with a felony or a misdemeanor anywhere in Flagler, Florida or the United States (other than a speeding ticket), or faced a civil action other than a divorce, but including bankruptcies, or faced any investigative or disciplinary action through a professional board such as the bar or a medical board? If so, please explain, including cases where charges or claims did not lead to conviction or disciplinary action.
Ed Danko did not answer the question.
How they answered: Sims Jones | Lou Salvagio
Percy's mother says
So besides being a Mullins protege’, deemed by Mullins to be a REAL Republican (as opposed to the rest of the Republicans, called ‘SNAKES”), what does Danko bring to the table? Guess we’re supposed to vote for Danko on blind faith. The blind faith Mullins followers will vote for Alan Lowe, Ed Danko and Maria Barbosa.
So that’s Alan Lowe, Ed Danko, Maria Barbosa who didn’t feel participation was warranted such that the electorate would have a clearer idea of who they really are and what they bring to the table. That is, aside from threatening people, having fake credentials, claiming to have a license to practice in the mental health area but in actuality having NO license to practice ANYTHING.
Then again, the rest of us (Democrats and other Republicans) are considered “SNAKES” and/or not REAL Republicans because they play both sides. In essence, IMPURE Republicans.
Only the above-noted group is worthy of holding office because they are PURE, REAL Republicans. There are others in “that” group. Just take a look at who Mullins has endorsed and then you’ll know who NOT to vote for.
Dazed and confused says
If this is a strategy, someone please enlighten me.
Politicians are making it difficult for me to follow this puzzle
Is this some form the Illuminati ?
Longman says
This guy Danko is a clown show
E. Hoffa says
Why No interview answers? This is a FAKE Trump Club in Palm Coast because the members are RINOS trying to build a SWAMP! Real Republicans ANSWER interview questions!
It is what it is says
I’m over this. We need grown-ups in elected office.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
What an insult to the thousands of readers who VOTE to not take advantage of the best, most inexpensive way to communicate one’s platform. I made by decisions on School Board races and Judicial races by reading most of the candidate platforms, accomplishments and goals of the candidates. I called 2 – one called me back in less than an hour. Jill running for School Board!
Thank you Flagler Live for being so ‘democratic’ in offering your time and space to all candidates regardless of party, cliques, clubs, ( or circus clowns…)
David S. says
Please send him back where ever he came from he is a joke.
Buzz says
You should see what Danko tried to pull off in North Carolina a few years ago. Google it!
Elisa says
He got ran off from a Avon, NC after running for office there and making threats to local business owners.