By Bob Gordon
I recently had an hour-long phone conversation with Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris to discuss my concerns about the divisive and often defamatory conspiracy theories that have permeated his base of supporters.
I also addressed the voicemail between Council member Charles Gambaro and former Mayor David Alfin that was posted to Nextdoor and has sadly become a rallying cry alleging corruption and conspiracy theories among Norris supporters on social media and at council meetings.
I emailed a detailed list of questions to Norris in advance. His responses during the subsequent phone conversation were overall very concerning.
The voicemail was posted to Nexdoor in the form of a campaign-like video with black and white scrolling dialog that plays the six-second voicemail message by Gambaro to Alfin. It stated: “Hey Dave, Good afternoon, Charlie Gambaro here, just called to touch base before catching up, talk to you later, bye.” Gambaro wasn’t aware that the phone he was calling had been reassigned to our new mayor, Norris.
The scrolling text accompanying the voicemail attempts to cast suspicion: “Why is Gambaro calling David Alfin to catch up after the comprehensive plan got voted down. Does Gambaro work for developers? Is he looking for what to do next? Why call a developer funded, past mayor to catch up right after the council voted down the comp plan?” The black and white scrolling message was similar in style to previous Norris campaign ads.
Deriving any kind of nexus between the very humdrum six-second voicemail and some kind of implied conspiratorial corruption is simply not rational. The voicemail was transferred from Norris’s city-assigned phone to his personal phone, later to become a part of the deceptive Nextdoor post. That obviously raises questions as to how it happened. It is reasonable to assume that Norris, who controlled both phones, is responsible for the transfer. He is also responsible for the city-issued phone, so even if by some wild scenario (that itself raises questions about Norris’s custody of city property) he did not physically carry out the transfer, he is responsible for it.
When I asked about this posted voicemail recording/video, Norris denied any involvement. Rather than show any concern for the security of his city and personal phone, he spoke of the message as if it were a smoking gun.
Even though he conceded that he has no evidence of corruption at all relating to that recording, he believed it was “circumstantial” evidence. I had to point out to him that such a message clearly would not rise to that level, or any level beyond a meaningless and insignificant six-second message.
He persisted, then pivoted to contend that if he could subpoena 10 city phone records, he could prove pervasive corruption. Whose 10 and what corruption was not clear, though Norris doesn’t need subpoenas. The records, voice mails and texts included, are public records. He could simply ask for them. Or he could ask his voicemail larcenist to ask for them. Talking subpoenas and falsely implying that the records are somehow inaccessible is another way to fabricate suspicion.
When pushed as to how that voicemail made its way from his phone to social media, he surprisingly suggested he may have been “wiretapped” by the FBI or CIA and went into a lengthy, wild story about how a now deceased high level government source has told him that Palm Coast has the largest population of retired CIA officers in the entire country. (Even assuming the impossible–that not only the FBI, but the CIA is wiretapping him, is he implying that he is under federal investigation?)
He went on to explain that he had friends and associates who would not talk to him on his phone for that reason. He asked me to draw my own conclusions from that. Well, I certainly did.
He is on record during a brief Palm Coast Observer interview claiming he passes his phone around. When I asked if he knew who might have had access and possibly be responsible for the extraction of the phone data, assuming it really wasn’t a covert CIA operation, he again denied any involvement, and in anger stated it was none of my business who he might have loaned his phone to.
Curiously, when asked if he was outraged and maybe felt a bit violated by the extraction of the data from his phone without his consent, he responded that he didn’t care at all. When asked several times if he might consider the incident defamatory conduct solely intended to mislead the public, he didn’t think so. In essence, he refused to concede that unfounded conspiracy theory rhetoric was a concern. He couldn’t care less.
In conclusion, I asked him how we might move past the unfounded accusations of corruption and what he could do personally to signal to his supporters to just plain stop and help heal a severely divided community. His response was that it ain’t gonna happen until Gambaro is removed from the council. I asked him what that had to do with the topic of our discussion. It is what it is, he responded, and excused himself because dinner was waiting.
There were several worrisome takeaways from our discussion. He simply doesn’t get it that spouting conspiracy theories and making unfounded allegations are unhealthy, wrong, and problematic for a public official who could be exposing his city to litigation. He likely knew much more and was not candid about the voicemail recording incident. He will likely continue to muddy the waters with unsubstantiated allegations. Most disturbingly, at times the mayor came off as paranoid and delusional.
None of this is reassuring for the urgently needed stability and credibility in the city’s leadership.
Bob Gordon is a Palm Coast resident.
JimboXYZ says
They watch & manage all of us. What’s the first thing a police officer investigates for a crime, they want the smartphone records. Smartphones are the microchips the Bush administration of the 1st decade of this century was after installing into us like pets that are microchipped. The healthcare industry was behind that. How do you think they rounded up as many of the J6ers for prosecution as they did ? some of it was video surveillance footage, but the easy slam dunk was searching databases of GPS data from smartphones. There are LPR technology, black boxes in automobiles & planes. The possibilities are endless that are beyond the Medical records & history of anyone implanted with a microchip. It is what it is. we spend more money watching people without their consent, it solves crimes, that’s one thing. Imagine microchipping prison inmates that get released for probation, instead of wearing ankle bracelets for tracking devices. Anyone want to know where you frequented, just look at the smartphone records. Google Maps tracks everyone just the same. He (Norris) is not wrong. and when a political enemy/opponent, we all saw what they did to Trump for 4 years. Why do you think Biden pardoned his whole family ? Hunter Biden’s a protected & endangered species of a drug addict loser. If anyone else did what Hunter Biden did & got caught like & as often as he did, they couldn’t stay out of prison.
Mothersworry says
Please, somebody get a bigger net!
CJ says
Mr. Mayor, please stop drinking the bong water. FYI, you are not that important.
Justbob says
Obviously, his QAnon membership has not lapsed.
Big Mike says
Speechless
Alice says
Norris please do the City of PC and its citizens a huge favor RESIGN.
D. says
He sounds like a conspiracy theorist nut job, get rid of him!
James says
Just when you think Mike Norris can’t get any weirder, he surprises you. Next time ask him his views on aliens!!!! Hahahahha!
Billy B says
MAGA – Make Asshole Go Away !!!!
Using Common Sense says
Those that have profited from and helped to orchestrate the destruction of Palm Coast from within are quaking in their boots that Mayor Norris will clean house and expose their “spiderwebs” that go back to ITT days. The overdevelopment, incompatible up zoning, lack of infrastructure, poisoning of our air and water is not only disturbing, but also part of a plan full of collusion, greed, and corruption that has resulted in excessive traffic, exorbitant utility costs, crumbling roads, unbearable nuisance noise, lack of water supply and waste water capacity, and unmitigated harmful toxic emissions from hundreds of daily lead fuel burning training school aircraft flying over our homes, schools, hospitals, churches, and crowded businesses. Growth at any cost, at the expense of our safety, health, and welfare that lowers our quality of life is criminal in my opinion. Mayor Norris is right, and fighting for the rights of the RESIDENTS. Those with a certain derangement syndrome and those that have allowed this disease of greed and cronyism to fester and grow for decades are losing their collective minds, throwing everything they can at Mayor Mike. Hang tough, Mayor Mike, we elected you to clean up the mess in Palm Coast, and that is exactly why these attacks are upon you.
Let it burn says
Just make up a bunch of lies and non sense it’s the republican way! Apparently most murikkkans are too ignorant to critically think these days. The gustoppo is already sending murikkan citizens to the death camps! Most rcons cheer this on till it’s their families being sent to the ovens. Shows the government and organized religion is a total scam for money.
Deborah Coffey says
It’s time for a recall petition or the governor’s removal. Palm Coast can’t function like this; it’s bad enough when the Council is “normal.”
Paul T says
Let’s face it. Palm Coast, which of course was literally built on a swamp, has a plurality of paranoid, conspiracy theorist, swamp dweller residents. So it’s no surprise that they elected the current like minded mayor.
Whether it’s possible to remove him is moot when the replacement may turn out to be equally unhinged. It would be an achievement to find someone who’s worse but I’m confident that the Palm Coast swampies will strive to do just that. After 20 years in residence I’ve come to the realisation that to hope for rational, for the people, governance of our city is a pipe dream.
JC says
Using Common Sense: You need mental help.
Mothersworry says
This clown may be why companies with meaningful jobs don’t locate in PC. Statements like his would have people looking elsewhere. PC’s political history is like a bad movie.
James says
“… I also addressed the voicemail between Council member Charles Gambaro and former Mayor David Alfin that was posted to Nextdoor…”
‘…the six-second voicemail message by Gambaro to Alfin. It stated: “Hey Dave, Good afternoon, Charlie Gambaro here, just called to touch base before catching up, talk to you later, bye.” Gambaro wasn’t aware that the phone he was calling had been reassigned to our new mayor, Norris. …’
So, from what I gather from this, Gambaro is indeed a friend of the former mayor. Who voted on his appointment to the city council.
Not exactly a Norris fan and don’t know much, if anything about “Nextdoor” (that is, this is the first that I’ve read of this), but this still doesn’t sound good for Gambaro.
Just my opinion.
Villein says
Still an improvement on alfin. I think a lot of people worry the government is watching them. Who knows anymore.
People have always believed things without evidence. I believe we will all have bigger things to worry about in the coming months than how crazy our mayor might be and what will become of Palm Coast.
Maria says
My ex acted like this and ended up being Baker acted. While I voted for Norris, I have great regret seeing his behavior now and am embarassed that he thinks he represents me because of my vote. I did not vote for someone who is hell bent on attacking and disparaging people at every level to get his way. Try some diplomacy, professionalism, and just a hint of kindness and understanding, and he could probably actually accomplish something. He is not mentally well and this will not end well for him. He is a disgrace and embaressment to our city.
Jim says
Norris is going to deny he said anything so I hope this is recorded (which I’m sure it is). Well, I think Norris has put the council in the position of having to move to force him out. It can’t happen soon enough. This is terrible.
What is just as bad is JimboXYZ and Using Common Sense voicing support for Norris’s wild claims. No wonder we have the type politicians we have with people so gullible that get to vote.
By the way, has Norris contacted the sheriff about the crime he would not share with council?
Purveyor of Truth says
He is just about the worst slow motion train wreck ever.
Atwp says
Jimbo, Trump never went to prison. He is worse than Hunter Biden. Trump is a loud mouth lying poor excuse of a leader. Jimbo there you have it.
The dude says
The mayor claims the CIA and the FBI are wiretapping his phone?
Is this the same FBI that was, according to Firmer Vice Mayor Ed “Winklebottom” Danko, going to imminently arrest mayor Holland a few years back?
You MAGA are just weird.
PeachesMcGee says
STOP BUFFOONERY!
Tired of it says
It is so disturbing that people think the mayor’s irrational behaviour is acceptable. But then it is unbelivable that Danko, Lowe, Mullins are still around. There hasn’t been a conspiracy to destroy Palm Coast, the unchecked growth and all the other problems mentioned above are simply a result of electing republicans, again and again.
Canary says
While this guy is not-so-slowly self-destructing, he’s taking the rest of the city down with him with his unhinged antics keeping the council from conducting any serious business. When will they step up and find the moral courage to end this circus by having the governor remove him for all of our good?
Norm says
It’s sad to see the damage being caused in the community by men like McDonald, Mullins, Danko and now Norris. Those who don’t want to see this town develop have nothing to worry about. Few businesses will move into a community with these crazies.
Let’s get that recall petition started. I am tired of being embarrassed by these clowns. And next time, vote for someone who is qualified to hold office.
Justbob says
Too bad the 25th Amendment doesn’t apply to a town mayor.
Steve says
Just because he’s paranoid doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
Critical Eye says
Citizens of Palm Coast community and all of surrounding Flagler County UNITE! Clearly Norris needs to be placed in a mental asylum due to his delusions which appears to lean towards the criminally insane. All the lies he tells in his secret meetings along with his made up accusations and denials are slanderous and shows his mental capacity/illness is impaired beyond measure.
It’s time to gather and form a petition to not only remove Norris from office as Palm Coast mayor. We must request he be banned from our entire government and community forevermore.
Critical Eye says
Normally only people who have serious mental illness issues or people that are involved in nefarious criminal activity suffer from paranoia. Normal people living normal lives with normal thoughts normal actions normal personalities and are law abiding citizens aren’t paranoid. They have no reason to be. There’s always a reason for being paranoid. Just sayin!
Hannah says
@jimboxyz
Dude…did you forget your meds? There is no grand conspiracy. We’re born. We live. We die. The end. No one has kids in the basement of a pizza parlor in north Jersey. You’re not important enough for a wiretap. You have Biden Derangement Syndrome where the man and his son (plus the Obama’s and Clinton’s) live rent free in your head, 24/7/365. Life sucks? It’s Biden’s fault. You lost your job? Hillary’s emails. The cost of goods goes up? Obama’s a Muslim. You people lost the plot in 2008 and have never got it back. The same whining and complaining and paranoia and finger-pointing at everyone but your own selves. It’s so very chicken little. Do you think anyone actually listens and cares about your deluding rambling? Lol. This behavior has been boring since 2008 when the screaming started because LORD a BLACK MAN is telling us what to do…oh the horror!!!! Take a gummy, chill, and enjoy whatever time you have left. This life is your only one. How you CHOOSE to live defines whether or not it’s a happy life or a miserable one. Yours looks miserable since all you ever do is complain about imaginary injustices. You may just be an energy vampire.
BTW – The mayor is nuts. He needs a straight-jacket, not the keys to the city. Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, this guy.
Ann Williams says
This PC Mayor needs to be recalled. He has mental issues; his conspiracy theories and made up innuendo prove he is not fit for office.
Andrea K. says
Mayor Norris behaved badly at work, thus creating a hostile workplace. But instead of resigning, he manufactured a “distraction” — by filing a lawsuit. Now he’s come up with another distraction — by bothering Sheriff Staley. This is a new low for Palm Coast. It’s no surprise that we can’t attract a qualified city manager.
We emailed Governor DeSantis about this debacle last week. Today, we will follow up with written letters and phone calls to Tallahassee. Mayor Norris is a true hazard to our great city, and if he won’t resign — Governor DeSantis needs to remove him.