Palm Coast City Council member Charles Gambaro submitted the following letter to residents Sunday evening.
Dear Palm Coast Community,
As your City Councilman, I feel compelled to address the deeply concerning situation currently unfolding in our city government. Recent events have created significant disruption to our city’s operations, damaged public trust, and diverted valuable attention and resources away from the important work of serving our residents. It is with a heavy heart but a firm commitment to transparency that I share these thoughts with you today.
I joined the Palm Coast City Council in full accordance with all established city and state procedures through a process that was carefully designed and unanimously approved by the previous Council. My appointment followed all legal requirements and proper protocols as outlined in our City Charter and Florida state law. Despite this lawful and transparent appointment, Mayor Norris has chosen to file a frivolous lawsuit against the city he was elected to serve, the Supervisor of Elections who upholds our democratic processes, and myself personally. This unprecedented legal action appears to be nothing more than a calculated attempt to deflect attention from the serious and well-documented concerns about his own troubling conduct in office since taking the oath in November of 2024.
The facts in this matter speak clearly for themselves and have been documented through proper channels. An independent and thorough investigation confirmed that Mayor Norris attempted to force the resignation of senior city staff without Council approval or knowledge–a clear and direct violation of our City Charter, which explicitly outlines the separation of powers within our government. This comprehensive investigation, conducted with the utmost professionalism and impartiality, led to a formal ethics complaint signed by four Council members and culminated in an official vote of no confidence and censure in April 2025. These were not actions taken lightly, but were necessary responses to protect the integrity of our city government.
Rather than addressing these substantiated findings in a constructive and reflective manner, Mayor Norris has responded by systematically abandoning key mayoral responsibilities that our citizens expect and deserve. He has publicly refused to fulfill Council liaison appointments–duties that are essential for coordination between the Council and various city departments and community organizations. Even more troubling, he has physically removed his belongings from the shared Council office, symbolically and literally withdrawing from collaborative governance. These actions represent a troubling and unprecedented abdication of the fundamental duties he swore to uphold when taking office and deprive our citizens of full representation in their government.
Perhaps most concerning to many residents and officials alike is the consistent pattern of behavior that has emerged throughout Mayor Norris’s brief tenure. The Mayor has repeatedly made unsubstantiated and serious accusations against respected local business leaders without providing evidence when requested. He has promoted unfounded conspiracy theories involving federal agencies supposedly targeting him personally, creating unnecessary alarm and division within our community.
Furthermore, he has engaged in inappropriate personal attacks against fellow Council members on social media platforms, referring to duly appointed officials as “illegal and illegitimate.” These attacks undermine the very foundation of civil discourse that effective governance requires. It’s worth noting that even Sheriff Staly has publicly cautioned the Mayor about the seriousness of making criminal accusations without supporting evidence–a warning that speaks volumes about the gravity of this situation.
Palm Coast deserves and should demand leadership that unites our diverse community rather than divides it, that builds productive relationships rather than tears them down, and that focuses on solutions rather than creating new problems. Our growing city faces real and complex challenges that require thoughtful collaboration among elected officials, professional city staff, community organizations, and engaged citizens. The current atmosphere of hostility and distrust created by the Mayor’s actions makes addressing these challenges unnecessarily difficult and threatens the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve together over many years of community building.
I want to assure all residents that I remain steadfastly committed to working constructively with all stakeholders to address the important issues facing our community. This includes improving infrastructure, ensuring public safety, promoting economic development, protecting our natural environment, and maintaining the quality of life that has attracted so many to Palm Coast and call it home. My commitment to these priorities remains unwavering despite the distractions created by the current situation.
I believe deeply in Palm Coast’s tremendous potential and will continue to serve with the same dedication, integrity, and collaborative spirit that I have brought to my previous roles in public service both in our community and in service to our nation.
With sincere respect and commitment to our shared future,
Charles A. Gambaro, Jr.
City Council member Charles Gambaro, a former member of the Flagler County School Board and a Brigadier General in the Army Reserve, represents District 4.
DP says
You’re a illegitimate council member. You’re in the pocket of the developers, and the 3 stooges who voted you in. The citizens should have been allowed to vote. Stop your grandstanding, and quietly leave. You won’t win an election.
James says
Gambaro is honest and correct in his assessment of the condition of Palm Coast. The Mayor is a complete embarrassment. Mayor Norris said he didn’t want to have the city face a lawsuit, after literally filing suit against the city. Thank you Gen. Gambaro! Keep fighting to return normalcy back to city hall.
Critical Eye says
Mike Norris has a Criminal Mind.
Palm Coast is in Deep Shit !!!
Mike Norris has made sure of that!!!
Period!
Tired of Gambaros Lies says
Resign now Chucky, before you embarrass us even more. You are NOT elected by the citizens. Norris is. Leave before you are tossed out!
John R says
Well stated. Thank you.
Ann Williams says
Councilman Gambaro, very well stated. Mayor Norris is doing incredible harm to the City of Palm Coast with his unprofessional and unethical behavior. I think Mayor Norris’ vengeful and retaliatory actions against you, the Supervisor of Elections, and the city will do grave harm to everyone involved; and including all the citizens of the City of Palm Coast. He is hoping to deflect attention from his very unprofessional behavior since he took office as Mayor of Palm Coast.
Scott says
It’s oddly telling that Councilman Gambaro suddenly feels the need to mount a full-scale public defense—because he knows the heat is on.
The mayor’s lawsuit is far from frivolous. In fact, the court refused the city’s request to delay it, ordered a swift response, and fast-tracked the hearing. That doesn’t happen for meritless cases.
Let’s be clear:
Gambaro was never elected by the people of Palm Coast. He was appointed in a rushed process by the previous council, and now a judge will determine whether that violated the City Charter.
If the lawsuit succeeds, as it very well could, Gambaro could be forced out and a special election held—which is exactly what the residents deserve: the right to choose their representation.
And as for the accusation that Mayor Norris “abdicated” his duties: that’s political spin.
The mayor has refused to play along with a council majority that an independent investigation found needed training on the very Charter they’re supposed to uphold.
That same report showed confusion and misapplication of ethics, Sunshine Law, and council conduct—across the entire council and senior staff. That’s not leadership—it’s dysfunction.
The irony?
Gambaro is accusing the mayor of causing division, while he and his allies filed a censure, tried to smear Norris with ethics charges, and publicly undermined the office of the mayor. Now that the legal system is getting involved, they’re scrambling.
The people of Palm Coast are watching—and the truth is catching up.
I'm smart too ya know, I can so things too....... says
Norris is too nutty to be Mayor. Out of control, paranoid and just plain weird.
D says says
Whilst you state a fact how you were elected correctly, how you remain is eliminated. The charter is clear that your term was up at the next election date which was November of 2024. Your post then shifts to immediately deflecting on the Mayors actions rather than the position of why or how the charter supports you remaining in office.
All this leads to the fact, you bringing this heat and anxiety to the dais and not letting the entire council weigh in on actions right or wrong from the Mayors handling of his business since taking office. Remain in your lane of how you can justify your own position against the charters position and the law.
Let the Mayor concern himself with his decisions he has made with his own conscious.
D W Ferguson says
From an old Sonny and Cher tune— ” THE BEAT GOES ON ” —The timing of the case hearing (July 3rd @ 3:15 ) may indicate a likely outcome …