Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, first elected in July 2021 to complete the term of Melissa Holland, will run for a full four-year term in an Aug. 20 primary that has drawn four other candidates so far. In 2021, Alfin won in a six-way race, taking 36 percent of the vote.
His absence from the list of declared candidates had begun to draw speculations about his intentions, though he left no doubt about those in an interview on Tuesday, as he drove back from Tallahassee, where he had formalized a request for “somewhere in the neighborhood of a third of a billion dollars” for Palm Coast. Last year Palm Coast, other cities and the county netted around $100 million in legislative appropriations, taking advantage of Rep. Paul Renner’s speakership–Renner represents Palm Coast–and Sen. Travis Hutson’s seniority. Both are in their last year, what will be Palm Coast and Flagler County’s last chance for many years to harvest as much pork from the local legislative delegation.
It was partly for that reason that Alfin delayed his announcement, which he will make at a local chamber event following his delivery of the annual State of the City Address at the Palm Coast Community Center Thursday evening. The coincidence is of course not unintentional: Alfin, whose timing can at times lack subtlety, is using the State of the City as a launching pad. He will file papers with the city clerk Thursday morning.
“I was elected to do a job and I have been struggling if you will, with keeping up with the job and thinking about dedicating time to campaigning, which is not what I was elected to do,” Alfin said as he drove back from the state capital. “So I was unwilling to file and start a campaign before I got to a certain point in my term. And the point I decided on was the session that we are now halfway through. Although I won’t wait till the end, my work is now done: I have an incredible record-breaking appropriations ask in place that will secure the financial sustainability, if the right planning is in place, for the future generations of Palm Coast and Flagler County.”
The city council will see substantial turn-over and possibly a turnover of three of its five seats if Alfin loses. Council member Nick Klufas is term-limited, and is running for a County Commission Seat. Council member Ed Danko is completing his first term but has elected to run for a County Commission seat as well, making it certain that those two seats will see new council members. The seats have so far drawn three candidates each (Kathy Austrino, Shara Brodsky and Jamaris Dornan for the District 1 seat held by Danko, and Dana Stancel, Ray Stevens and Andrew Werner for the District 3 seat held by Klufas). If the mayor’s seat turns over, that will leave Theresa Pontieri and Cathy Heighter, each at their respective two-year mark in their term, as the council’s senior members. It would be the council with the least accumulated experience or institutional memory in the city’s history.
Alfin aside, the four candidates for mayor are Peter Johnson, Alan Lowe, John McDonald and Mike Norris. Lowe has run twice for mayor–in 2020 and 2021, polling just under 27 percent each time, then for a council seat, polling 28 percent in the primary and 32 percent in the runoff in which Pontieri defeated him with 68 percent of the vote. For the others, it’s their first race.
Alfin is no longer the unknown he was in 2021. He has been more of a lightning rod in a three-year tenure that’s been significantly busier even than Holland’s first term, which had itself ramped up the city’s administrative energy from the previous years, when the council was in a far more deferential mode, looking to the administration to set the agenda. That’s no longer the case. Accelerated development–though still nothing on the scale of 2004-06–, flooding, huge financial windfalls in state appropriations, the re-writing of the city’s comprehensive plan (the city’s long-term development blueprint), a huge raise for council members and Alfin’s management of the council itself–an unruly bunch in the early goings, a calmer bunch now–have dominated that agenda.
“I believe that the bar on the mayor’s seat has been raised in terms of the number of commitments that I’ve made since I took office,” Alfin said. “I think that’s important because I’ve always said from the beginning: the mayor’s job is not in City Hall at a desk. The mayor’s job is out in the streets. And I’m pretty sure I have broken anybody else’s record for the number of events to attend, but not just to attend. That’s the place where you will find out what’s on the residents’ mind. And it’s not easy. You’ve got to hear the bad stuff with good stuff. And generally there’s more bad things than good things, but it gives you a priority list to go back to staff and and work on.”
In a press interview Alfin had let loose an unfelicitous phrase, describing a corps of recurring critics at City Council meetings and on social media as a “loudmouth minority.” The critics took the phrase to heart and turned it into their slogan, imprinting it on t-shirts some of them now wear when they address the council. “I thought that was very creative, the t-shirt,” Alfin said, conceding, however, that the phrase may not have been delivered as intended. Still: he doesn’t see the controversies as much of a negative.
“Development itself is a controversial topic,” he said. Those are the items that have brought out the standing-room-only crowds at council meetings. “If you’re not willing to stir it up and make some controversy, I’m not sure you can make progress. You can sit and and try to appease everybody. I don’t believe that’s realistic, and I don’t believe that ever gets you to a finish line.” That finish line remains more rhetorical than defined: there are no stated end points in Palm Coast’s expansion.
Asked if he felt he or the city had overshot on development on his watch, he argued the reverse: “We have seriously undershot the original ITT plan for which the current comprehensive plan was seeded from,” he said, saying the original ITT plan had called for over 200,000 residents.
Actually, when first proposed in the late 1960s and as the first houses were going up in the early 1970s, the plan was for three times that number: “By the turn of the century, according to plans of the I.T.T. Development Corporation.” The New York Times reported on Jan. 6, 1974, in an article datelined Palm Coast,” a city with a population equal to New Orleans–about 600,000–will be situated on the banks of the Matanzas.” As of January, Palm Coast’s population is just over 100,000.”
Alfin wants the ITT plan shelved for good and replaced by an original, new comprehensive plan that the city is developing now. “Let’s all decide together, what’s the best direction and what’s the best finish line forward for the future generations?” Alfin said. “That’s a big step. That’s a big deal. Very few cities will do that. Because development is controversial. And I guarantee you that my act of opening up the Comp plan will create lots of controversy, but not for the sake of controversy but for the sake of listening to the residents, allowing them a chance to engage and making them a part of the process that decides the future of a city that we love.”
That may be so, but the comprehensive plan is going from an unwavering premise: that the city will not only finish developing the more than 8,000 remaining ITT lots within its old boundaries, so-called “infill” lots, but will almost double the city’s size with an expansion westward. The doubling is not in question: Palm Coast already did that, by annexation, almost 15 years ago. The council also approved massive planned developments–Developments of Regional Impacts, or DRIs–west of U.S. 1, that have only now began to sprout in fractions, before they turn to thousands of homes. Alfin, who is working on a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Florida, says the west side–his stated legacy–will not replicate old Palm Coast, but will be a fresh blueprint that residents will draw through the comprehensive plan process.
Is the mayor courting controversy for its own sake? “Never,” Alfin said. “But you weigh the ROI. Is this thing going to create more controversy than my return on the investment of the thing that I am promoting?” He mentioned the pay raise he muscled through the council, what amounted to the first serious controversy on his watch, raising council members’ salaries from $9,600 a year to $24,097, a 151 percent increase, and the mayor’s salary from $11,400 to $30,039 a year, a 164 percent increase. He considers it a victory. There appears to be no nexus between the higher pay and the caliber of candidates filing now as opposed to before the raises. But Alfin says it’s there.
“Look at the candidates in another two weeks,” he said, “and then you tell me, by George, you have the youngest, most diverse set of candidates throughout the school board, the county and the city that we have ever had in the history of Palm Coast. So that was my vision. That’s what I was out to conquer. And in two weeks, you’ll see the proof of it.”
But he was quick to note about the four other candidate in his own race for mayor: “Those have nothing to do with what I just said.”
Yes, there’s opposition, and that will continue, Alfin said, but he insists that the opposition remains a minority. This time he doesn’t use the word “loudmouth.” But it might as well be implied. The same people show up at the same meetings, he said. “It’s their right, I encourage it, but that is the majority of public comments that you will hear at every meeting,” Alfin said. “Do I think that this is widespread throughout the community? I do not.” The majority of people–a lot of them new arrivals in a city that’s added 2,500 to 3,000 residents a year in the past few years–are looking to maintain quality of life in the city, but “if they want additional amenities to increase the quality of life, that is going to require some additional growth. As an example, if you want higher scale retail in the area, you’re going to need the buyers to support it, and on and on and on,” Alfin said.
Three years ago Alfin had no experience as an elected official. His first goal at the time was to restore decorum to the council’s proceedings. His other goal was to work with all city departments to understand the functions of the city, and to forge relationships for the city–with land owners, with elected officials in Tallahassee, with investors–to steer it in a post-ITT direction. He concedes that at times, his demeanor may rub people the wrong way. “I’ve got every fault that everybody else out there has. And it could just be an emotional expression,” he said. “When you when you are trying to exemplify leadership, there’s a pressure and there are times when I’m just not perfect. It’s just that plain and simple.”
HayRide says
with many people angry about flooding this ought to be interesting
David S says
I would NEVER vote for that idiot. We need someone with some knowledge not a friggen realtor…
Mike says
Time for him to get lost! He’s done nothing good for Palm Coast except to allow over building so him and his cronies could stuff their pockets! Goodbye for good!!!
TR says
I agree 100%. IMO we need a business man with no personal agenda. It also should be law that someone (like a realtor) can not be mayor because of the conflict of interest because this fool has pushed for all the construction without doing what they are suppose to follow through. Like get the impact fee before one tree is removed from the lot to be built on. The city can not manage the money and keep pushing it on the residence. What the council needs to understand is they work for us and not for themselves. they gave themselves a raise which IMO should have been on a ballot. Who has ever worked for someone else and walked into the bosses office and said “I’m giving myself a 157% raise and you will pay it” How do you that would work out? It wouldn’t.
ALFIN NEEDS TO GO. He caused enough damage to the city that will take years to tame, if it can be.
VOTE NO FOR ALFIN.
The Sour Kraut says
StuffEmIn Alfin? Not going to get many votes. We need a non-realtor who cares more about the city and the people than they do about developers.
Dennis C Rathsam says
After the shit show we ve been watching & living with, he doesnt deserve anyone,s vote. Remember folks all these liars, raised your taxes & cut your services…. But they got a raise! In all accuality, he,s got a lot of balls to run, he,s done nothing but ruien P/C. With all these new people, taxes for us should be going down not up.Traffics a mess, yards are flooding, & its getting harder to find a parking spot, at the store now a days…. Must be the snowbirds. Time to clean house folks, it cant get any worse!
Land of no turn signals says says
I hope the people of Palm Coast Learned a valuable lesson.
Ken says
This mayor needs to GO! He doesn’t care about the people of Palm Coast. He cares about himself , making money off of these developers!
Deborah Coffey says
Not EVER!
Say it ain’t so says
never Sovereign Citizen Alan Lowe. He has proven that he is unelectable and only takes away votes from other legitimate candidates
And anyone besides Napoleon Dicko
Laura says
Alfin’s repeat verbal and nonverbal communication shows his unfettered contempt and disdain for the residents or anyone (including fellow council members) who question his rule. He cares only of his “legacy”. Vote him OUT !
Buddy says
Alfin just wants all the new construction to be as high density as possible…and as much as possible. Wildlife doesn’t pay taxes so it is of no use to him.
Ray says
He is destroying on woodlands!
James says
“… the original ITT Plan had called for over 200,000 residents. … Actually when first proposed in the late 1960s… early 1970s the plan was for three times that number. …”
How many plans made over half a century ago are still being kept?
Plans change, they certainly changed for ITT. In fact, after doing a little research on the matter, it could be argued that ITT seemed to “change their plans” with regard to Palm Coast even as early as 1980.
So I wish folks would stop appealing to this old, tired, “ITT planned for this or that half a century ago, but we’re not even halfway there yet” argument just to justify all the urban sprawl that has now overtaken us here due to greed and the questionable judgements made by those whose main goal apparently is to “build a legacy” for themselves… a lasting testament to their monumental vanity.
Just say’n.
dan says
remember your tax bill. This guy is responsible for you paying out the nose. Don’t waste your vote on him unless you want to be broke.
Send him packing says
This guy Alfin voted for the largest pay increase for the city council in our city history…never forget!
Jim says
Give the guy credit…. Raises salaries for him and his fellow council members and then wants us to vote him in for another term! And he’s a “build baby build” guy who is making no secret that he’s supporting his chosen profession as a realtor. Apparently what we need is a bigger Palm Coast so that we can have “the good life” and more taxes can be collected (spent)!
His comment about the ages of leadership in this county -pointing at the school board for example. I don’t think I’d hold them up as examples of anything good. I’m guessing he’s pandering to anyone who supports them.
Alan Lowe is a non-starter and I look forward to reading more about the other two candidates. I’m really hoping at least one of them will demonstrate a level of maturity, reasonableness and desire to do what’s best for Palm Coast. If so we all need to support that candidate. This will be one of the few times we can effect good change in this city. And we really need it.
Joseph Barand says
Corrupt, scheming, loudmouth. Not what we need or deserve.
Greg says
Please vote for anyone who is not a realtor.
Sam says
Didn’t vote for him the first time and won’t vote for him the second time. The worst Mayor PC has ever had.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Nope, not getting any Votes from this house.
JEK says
Didn’t vote for him the first time. We do not need a realtor as a mayor. As for Alan Lowe???! Can’t we just forget about him?? Please!
Slangano says
I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR ALFIN!
Please do your research!!!!!!
Deez Nutz says
I hope Alfin is reading all these negative comments and reconsiders running again! There is no way in hell he will ever get re-elected, so he might as well save face and move on. He destroyed this once beautiful city for his own profit! You will lose big time, guaranteed!
George says
Hope Alfin reads all these negative comments. He sure isn’t liked as the Mayor Of PC, would be better if he just changes his mind and go back to selling houses. His Mayor Days are over. Thank goodness for Palm Coast.
YankeeExPat says
Agree completely. also throw in there “I run this county” Joe Mullins
polysci says
No more realtors, not him or any others. He is a horror show and has no remorse.
polysci says
No way for this guy or any other realtor. All out for himself with no remorse. Just my opinion.
Ron says
I can not vote for Mayor since my address is in incorporated Flagler County. Is this Mayor in favor of the State regulating vacation rentals. There are two bills SB 280 and House bill 1537 being proposed right now. That will target every single family home in Palm Coast. The Florida realtors are backing it.
What that means for you and your neighbors is complete destruction of your neighborhoods! You will see out of state investors buying up homes a converting them into vacation rental businesses. This business will operate unregulated. As the State does not have the resources to manage. Out of control occupancy, numerous vehicles and all day and night parties. You will not be enjoying your life at your home anymore.
Go to Homerulefl.com
My Sentiments exactly! says
I will never again vote for any politician/realtor with the inevitable personal financial interest in policy making.
Deborah Coffey says
He’s the worst in our 24 years here!
Deborah Coffey says
Thank you for the link.
Bruces says
I first met Affin in a private meeting since i was involved in safety for Cimmaron Dv
at first i thought he was going to be good, but as time went on I realized he does not care
about the people of this once great city, that in five years a lot of people have left at least on Cimmaron.
and the new comers our finding out real fast about what this city council is all about
1 person i believe still cares about the people. Thank god Nick and Ed will be gone
and pray they dont win seats at the county. Affin here is Affin plan for the city
build build build dont care if it causes problems with other houses, i truly dont care if causes
flooding problems or traffic problems i want to raise the taxes i want to raise the water water rates
no i dont care home people die in this city because the traffic conditions our out of hand 6 deaths alone in the late part of December early jan 3 of them youths one was a personal friends No and my two best friends Nick and Ed vote alone No audit will be performed because people could wound up going to jail.
this city has been through a terrible time every since we been leadership in the last 8 years has destroyed this city. If he was to win we all should go to the state and demand a investigation, the people that no chance of winning should drop out. He knows he has destroyed the city so he rather have a lot of candidtes run for office
bruces says
Mr Affin has had no concern for the residents of this town,
Traffic has been out of contract back in 2018 and has been worse
since his term. Streets like Florida park Cimmaron and some major streets in the B section have been terrible,
just in the earlier year of 2024 there were 6 deaths and out of those 6 six deaths three of them were you adults in
their in their young 20:s
The flooding situation in many areas has a big concern for everyone
as new houses appear every and has been mentioned thats part of the problem
The water bill as they vote on Feb 20 for another increase is a major problem
its 100.00 before you even turn on your water. while is his dream is to have major corporations other then the hospital what we are seeing is more fast food restanurants we need a change
bruces says
I think people Mike Norris will be a great leader for the community
some one said this i dont know about hispast rather then me tell
you Just go his website
he is for the people . Last night at the citycouncil meeting i mention how Affin i a hugh disappointment
to the city build build build water problems with flooding
traffic problems no jobs go to mikes website any questions i can be reached
Barbara Sadler says
Anyone but Alfin