U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, the unfiltered provocateur and former member of the Florida Senate who won a special election in April to claim the Flagler County-centered congressional seat vacated by Mike Waltz, has chosen the like-minded former member of the Palm Coast City Council to be his regional director in Flagler, Volusia and St Johns County: Ed Danko.
Danko begins his job on the federal payroll Friday. The one-term council member made an unsuccessful run for a County Commission seat, losing to Pam Richardson by 39 votes and vowing never to run for office again. But he didn’t vow never to be in politics again.
Ernest Audino, a retired Army brigadier general, held the regional or district director position when Waltz was the congressman, and Randy Stapleford filled the role for Ron DeSantis before that. Audino briefly entered the race in the special election, withdrawing after Donald Trump endorsed Find. Audino has since become a business recruiter in Volusia County. Stapleford is Flagler County’s representative on the Florida Inland Navigation District.
The district director is essentially the congressman’s local ambassador, running a local office, conveying the congressman’s messages locally and taking care of constituent services, the most essential part of the job. Fine decided to split the responsibility between two directors, with another handling the Lake, Putnam and Marion county portions of the district.
Danko–who declined to be interviewed–had just earned his Realtor license. He’s not been silent on local politics, maintaining an active and vocal opposition to Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris, filing an ethics complaint against the mayor and taking to social media and other comment boards to voice his characteristically caustic opinions. He was actively involved in Fine’s election campaign, organizing an appearance by Fine at Danko’s Trump Club, where the two hit it off.
If anyone was hoping to see and hear less of Danko–a polarizing, often controversial figure whom the Palm Coast City Council censured in his last days on the job–the reverse will likely be truer: as Fine’s district director, Danko will be visible at local government meetings, civic functions and public events.
Fine had little knowledge of Flagler County other than slicing through it on I-95 over the years. In a radio appearance on WNZF’s Free For All Friday last December, host David Ayres tol him of local concerns that Fine would be an absentee representative. “People here want to hear from you that you will come up here to Flagler, St John’s,” Ayres said. “They do want to hear that you’re going to be here, and not long arm, you know, from Melbourne and Washington. They want to feel some love from Randy Fine.” (It isn’t often that the words “love” and “Randy Fine” are heard in the same breath, at least not without irony.)
“They’re going to get that,” Fine assured him. When Ayres asked him if he was going to have an office in Flagler County, Fine was non-committal. “I haven’t figured that out,” he said. “There are three offices right now that Congressman Waltz has. I’ll probably start by looking at those and determining, if it ain’t broke, why break it. And then we’ll take it from there. I’m not going to figure out those things until after the election.”
It appears he now has, with the opening of a Flagler County office–but not where Waltz had his office. Fine’s staffers are looking for a different location. “It’s a big district, whether it’s going to be Volusia, Flagler, St Johns, Lake, Putnam or Marion, I would expect you’ll see me in one of those in the not-too-distant future,” Fine said.
Danko has been a homeowner in Palm Coast’s W Section since 2018. In him, Fine may have a mirror-image of the congressman’s abrasive nature, but unlike Fine, Danko is closely aware of the local political landscape across jurisdictions, familiar with most local officials, comfortable on radio or before cameras–he was a network television news producer in his former career–and a compulsive door-knocker who thrives on contact with constituents. In 2020 he out-campaigned most and better-known candidates to win his council seat. On the council, and controversies aside–he could easily be distracted by conflicts with fellow-council members–he was often a loud and persistent advocate for constituents.
Waltz resigned the District 6 seat to be Trump’s national security adviser. It was a short tenure. Waltz became the first member of the new administration to resign after he invited an Atlantic editor and reporter to what was supposed to be a secure group chat involving top administration officials, including the vice president and the defense secretary, and through which the defense secretary revealed imminent military attacks in Yemen. The president shifted Waltz to United Nations ambassador, a position that requires Senate confirmation. That hearing is not expected to be easy for Waltz, nor its outcome predictable.
Fine meanwhile has been making more news in Florida from the failure of the bills he left behind at the Legislature than from any actions in Washington (lawmakers let drop his attempt to ban Pride flags on public grounds or to reinstitute the right of 18-to-21 year olds to buy long guns), or from incendiary, often bigoted rhetoric: last month he falsely, slanderously called U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the Michigan Democrat, “a bad person” who is “not a terrorist sympathizer, she’s a terrorist.” He said she should not be an American or in Congress. He has openly advocated the starving of Palestinians in Gaza, where a total, two-month-old Israeli siege is preventing food, medicine and any other humanitarian aid from entering.
Weeks before in the Florida Legislature, he referred to an individual addressing a committee while wearing a common, traditional Middle Eastern scarf typically associated with Levantines and Bedouins from North Africa to coastal Syria as wearing a “terrorist rag.” Fine inaccurately called it the “symbol of Hamas” and of Hezbollah, the militant groups in Gaza and Lebanon. (The scarf, referred to as kefiyyeh, a term with Italian and English origins, is especially favored by Palestinians but also worn by Christian mountaineers in Lebanon and Syria.) During his campaign against Josh Weil, the Democrat, Fine called him “Jihad Josh.” His legislative colleagues either in Washington or in Tallahassee have not censured him.
“Randy Fine’s long and documented history of promoting bigotry and political violence is a danger to his colleagues, to American Muslims and Palestinians, and to the foundational principles of our democracy,” Robert S. McCaw, CAIR’s Government Affairs Department Director, said today as his organization sent a message to 1,600 congressional staffers alerting them to the dehumanizing rhetoric and asking for a public condemnation of such remarks. None is likely forthcoming.
The dude says
You people can’t help yourselves.
It’s like an infinite reflection of stupid.
Yet all you do is bitch and moan about the results of putting the same 10 fools in the same 7 seats (figuratively speaking) over and over and over again…
Hey Pierre, I believe you left off an honorific there that the little fellow is quite proud of.
We refer to him as “The firmer Vice Mayor of Palm Coast” when we speak of the little lawn troll that is Danko.
Kennan says
Wow!! That says so much about Ed Danko. HOORAY.
Ralph says
Fine was a disaster as a candidate because he wouldn’t listen. He was endorsed by Trump because he wrote him the largest donation check.
We knew that once elected Fine would not venture here, nor care about the district he serves. Now, he’s proven that with the hiring of idiot Danko. Danko was never prepared for a single City Council meeting.
It will be very challenging for Fine due to Danko’s constant attention seeking antics…for himself. These two narcissists will need a huge room, when they meet, just to fit the egos and ignorance.
Not to worry, we have a new idiot Mayor who will be challenging them for media coverage. Pope Quid Pro Quo Norris is a strong up and comer to the complete idiot hall of fame.
DP says
And here we go again. Can’t get him out of Flagler County. Now involved with a US house Repersentive, and running his local office. We can’t catch a break from stupidity!!!!!
Ralphy says
Fine was a horrible candidate because he didn’t listen to locals. So, why would it surprise anyone that he’d pick this idiot as his local representative.
The guy who was never prepared for a single, city council meeting, Danko disgraces us with his presence once more. Danko is as annoying as an infected hemorrhoid and about as useless.
Once again, Fine doesn’t listen and this pick is a slap in the face to his district. Utterly embarrassing. So, instead of getting someone who could help our community, we get Danko. Danko who could never make a tough decisions. Danko who couldn’t vote for a roll back. Danko who wouldn’t “raise taxes” but had no problem voting himself a pay raise on the backs of tax payers.
Way to misread the room, Fine.
The Truth says
THE MAGA BOYS CLUB IS ENDLESS.
Sherry says
OMG! By far, the worst possible choice!
But then again, “consider the source”. . . . birds of a feather! Sorry Florida! Sorry Flagler County!
Pogo says
@Shit
… floats.
Critical Eye says
Congratulations Mr. Danko! We didn’t see that coming. Wishing you all the best in your new role . Looking forward to seeing you. Since you’re back, I would like to take the opportunity in asking you to do us all a big favor? Palm Coast needs HELP big time! Palm Coast is in dire need of having Mike Norris removed as Palm Coast Mayor. Since his election, he has done nothing but put Palm Coast in deeper debt. I’m sure you’ve heard about the frivolous lawsuit and our City Hall meetings are a complete fiasco. People in attendance are unruly and totally out of hand. Norris has no control. He has no clue how to be in charge of the meetings There is no decorum anymore,that we used to have before Norris came along. We have people yelling from the back of the room when other citizens are speaking to give their opinions or ask for help. People booing and cheering and clapping. It’s a total circus. But it’s not fun. Norris sits there like a bump on a log looking board to death. He’s a complete disgrace to our city. The vice mayor has to step in and take care of the business that Norris should be attending to He’s filed a frivolous lawsuit against the city pertaining to the installation of councilman Gambaro in retaliation of Gambaro exposing the violations of the city charter that Norris has made against several city council employees. The investigation concluded that Norris is guilty on all counts. He has crippled the growth of Palm Coast and stopped us totally from being able to move forward with the issues we are dealing with of our infrastructure. He declined to go to Tallahassee with the rest of the city council members because he said he had more important things to do. What could’ve possibly been more important than that? It’s not like somebody died Turned out he spent most of the time they were away writing about his dog and how his dogs daily poops. I read about that on the Nextdoor platform He also was busy making videos on YouTube criticizing Palm Coast and his coworkers within City Hall. He loves playing the victim when it’s actually him victimizing everyone else He’s not what we need as our mayor, we need him removed ASAP .
As mentioned above the investigation that was performed found him guilty as charged. The next step is sending the report to the ethics committee. From there, it will go to the governor of Florida Ron DeSantis. Our governor must remove Mike Norris from the office of Palm Coast city Mayor.
I’m sure you know all about this anyway. If there is anything that you can do to help this along, please do it. We will be eternally grateful.
Richard Fay says
Mr. Danko will have his work cut out for him. The ranks of civil government have been/are being dismantled. The institutional knowledge has been/is being drained from the government agencies that Mr. Danko will rely upon to resolve constituent problems. It is not a task I would wish upon anyone at this time. I do hope Mr. Danko is up for the challenge with a sense of grace and dignity in the face of constitutes who are troubled needing assistance in addressing perceived and real-life threatening problems. To maintain composure when scared, angry, frustrated constituents confront Mr. Danko in the face of possibly insurmountable challenges will require preparation for Mr. Danko and the team assembled at the district level.
Duane says
Even the people who voted for Fine think this is a mistake.
YankeeExPat says
Another Baton Twirler in the Republican Shit Show Parade !
Steve says
Looks like more of the same with the retreads coming back to life. Wonder when Mullins will be Appointed Dog catcher for the County. A regular good old Boys Club.
NJ says
God SAVE Flagler County and the rest of FL District 6! Danko will be FL 6’s Congressman “in place”! Do NOT expect Randy Fine to have any “Town Hall Meetings”! Sadly we voted for Fine but we did NOT vote for Danko! Just as Trump FIRED Waltz: Finer (if he is smart enough to learn the REAL Facts about his District) will FIRE Danko and replace him with a Common Sense Conservative who will promote the Real Wishes of “We the People” in FL-District 6!
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
Ah yes, the american way. Rewarding only the dumbest assholes by giving them positions in government that they are unqualified for.
Laurel says
Well, this is what y’all get. Josh Weil was heads and tails a superior candidate, who would not have continued this half-assed nonsense. But no, y’all vote for R’s no matter how piss poor they are as leaders, so enjoy enjoy the continuation of your preferred circus. It goes on and on.