Ray Stevens is one of three candidates in the Aug. 20 primary election for Palm Coast City Council, District 3. It’s an open seat, as Council member Nick Klufas is term-limited. He is running for a County Commission seat. The candidates who qualified are Dana Mark Stancel, Stevens and Andrew Werner.
This is a non-partisan, at-large election. That means all registered voters in Palm Coast–and only Palm Coast–regardless of party or non-party affiliation–Democrats, Republicans, independents and others–may cast a ballot for City Council. If a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, that candidate is elected. If none of the candidates garner more than a 50 percent majority, the leading two vote-getters move on to a runoff to be decided in the Nov. 5 general election.
A city council member is paid $24,097 a year plus a $1,200 car allowance and a $910 communication allowance each year, plus full health care benefits.
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 their claims. 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
- Preparation, character and champions
- Council’s performance
- Goals
- Taxes
- Development
- Arts and culture
- Westward expansion
- Saltwater canals
- City manager
- Policing
- Rap sheet
Place and Date of Birth:
Current job: Retired Police Lieutenant from New York and a former Pinellas County Deputy Sheriff.
Party Affiliation: Republican.
Financial Disclosures.
Resume.
Flagler County School Board Derek Barrs, Dist. 3 Janie Ruddy, Dist. 3 Lauren Ramirez, Dist. 5 Vincent Sullivan, Dist. 5 Flagler County Commission Andy Dance, Dist. 1 Fernando Melendez, Dist. 1 Kim Carney, Dist. 3 Bill Clark, Dist. 3 Nick Klufas, Dist. 3 Ed Danko, Dist. 5 Pam Richardson, Dist. 5 Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin Peter Johnson Alan Lowe Cornelia Manfre Mike Norris Palm Coast City Council Kathy Austrino, Dist. 1 Shara Brodsky, Dist. 1 Ty Miller, Dist. 1 Jeffrey Seib, Dist. 1 Dana Stancel, Dist. 3 Ray Stevens, Dist. 3 Andrew Werner, Dist. 3 |
1. How have you specifically prepared yourself to be ready to succeed from day one? If you’re an incumbent, what have you learned from your time on the council that has changed your governing method, and in what way? Tell us about the character flaws and unique perspectives you bring to the council. Who do you admire most in office today among elected officials in Flagler County—the person you’d consider a model of leadership? Who in the world at large (beyond Flagler), and among the living, do you consider a role model of political or intellectual leadership?
Having served as an Administrative Lieutenant in New York before my retirement uniquely qualifies me for the office of Palm Coast City Commissioner. After all the city commission is an administrative body empowered to oversee and provide direction as to how the city conducts the people’s business. As an Administrative Lieutenant, my responsibilities were, but not limited to, overseeing and directing the operations conducted by subordinate personnel. I also participated in the interview of prospective new employees and the vetting of candidates who were being considered for promotion.
I admire Suzanne Johnston who has held the position of Tax Collector for many years. Doing so in a professional manner avoiding any controversy. During her tenure, she has initiated innovative ideas to improve the service provided to the community. I feel compelled here to also mention Jay Gardner who has also served many years with distinction. Beyond Flagler, former President Trump.
Your retirement dates back 20 years, a long period that has seen significant changes in the workplace–public and private: how have you kept up with those changes, which may have a significant bearing on how you perceive administrative staff? In your preparation for City Council, have you attended meetings, met with directors of city departments, studied the budget and followed the council’s current issues to be prepared from day one?
2. Give the council a letter grade on its performance in the last two years. Explain with specific examples where it has been lacking and where it has excelled, and what specific experience and qualities you will bring to improve its effectiveness.
Currently, I am unable to express what areas the city council has excelled in.
Once elected I will conduct, from time to time, public input meetings focused on an area of public concern. In that, if a particular section or area is having trouble, flooding, speeding on residential streets, and noise complaints I would visit these locations to see first-hand what the concerns are and to gain input as to possible solutions. Residents will have more than three minutes to express themselves, there will be no three-minute timers or Buzzers.
Three minutes is standard across local governments; would an unlimited time allotment not lend itself to abuse and grandstanders, and make meetings even more painfully long than they already are? When you say you are unable to say where the council has excelled, is that because you do not know where they might have excelled, or because you do not think they have excelled in anything?
3. What are two goals where you are most aligned with the current council’s “Strategic Action Plan,” two with which you differ, and two you would seek to add, and explain how you intend to convince the council to follow your lead.
4. Taxes and revenue: Where do you stand on property tax increases, including adopting tax rates that are not at rollback (which amounts to a tax increase under Florida law)? Where do you stand on supporting a countywide increase in the sales tax, on adopting a public service tax, or adopting a utility franchise fee? Short of new sources of revenue, and if you intend to stick to a rolled back tax rate, which nearly limits any growth in the budget, what city programs would you eliminate and what service levels would you reduce to achieve that?
Your stance suggests that you are not entirely closed to potential tax increases, assuming all the other boxes have been checked. In other words, you are not outright pledging always to go to rollback, is that correct? If not, can you clarify? Palm Coast revenue from the county sales tax is greater than the county’s share, so is it not fair of the county to ask for the City Council’s support, if it were to adopt a higher sales tax?
I am always amicable to rollbacks , but not committed to them. This whole relationship between the county and the city is like the tail waking the dog. The vast majority of tax revenue is generated it the city of Palm Coast. I am not sure I fully understand the question, however, I will take a stab at it. As a city council member they would have to provide me with a strong justification to raise county taxes as my position is, and will continue to be, raising taxes to meet expenses should be the absolute last resort and not the first option.
5. Palm Coast’s population continues to grow rapidly, absorbing most of the net increase of 16,000 people between 2020 and 2022. Evaluate the quality and quantity of development in the last few years. What sort of land use or development would you oppose, if it were to come before the council for approval, and why? What percentage of our housing stock should be single-family houses on traditional lots as opposed to apartments or other multi-family 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?
I would oppose any further low or middle-income rental housing located in the Town Center. The original marketing plan for the Town Center was for shops, stores, and restaurants. Single-family homes on traditional lots, in my opinion, have the least impact on the infrastructure. If an individual buys a piece of property to build a home on that is their right. The percentage would be based on demand and availability.
I would be steadfastly opposed to rezoning or up-zoning properties to benefit a certain special interest group. It is my feeling if one buys a piece of property zoned low-density single-family, they knew that when they purchased the property, that zoning designation should remain in place. And that should apply across the board. It is in my opinion, this rezoning and up-zoning has strayed so far from the original master plan ITT had approved by both state and federal agencies is what’s causing, to a greater or lesser degree, the infrastructure challenges we are facing today. If elected I would ask for an overlay of all of the approved not built, and existing development to be overlaid on the original ITT plan approved by the state decades ago. This comparison will show how far we have strayed from a plan based on a environmentally tenuous county consisting of many “swampy” areas. Doing so will help in determining our way back and help relieve the impacts of years of “favored development”.
Town Center was, in fact, planned in 2003 as Palm Coast’s first mixed-use development zone, with considerable acreage for apartments. If not in Town center, then where? What do you have against low-income or middle-income earners who need housing, but not necessarily a single-family home? Doesn’t that contradict your remark about palm Coast sprawl, above–what, other than single-family homes, is responsible for that sprawl? Your stance on zoning, if applied to the westward expansion, suggests that all that timberland should remain timberland–no up-zoning to residential or commercial or industrial. Does that mean you oppose any such expansion in the west?
Single family homes do not contribute to what is commonly referred to as “Urban Sprawl.” Major development projects and the traffic they create is, what I consider to be, “Urban Sprawl.” The majority of the timberland you speak of should remain as such. It is my understanding that most of the wells that account for the city’s water supply are located there. Building near or on the recharge fields will greatly decrease the replenishment of the Aquifer and could lead to contamination as well. As far as the Town Center is concerned I was here when it was predominately woods. It was marketed to the public as place where shops, restaurants boutiques, and promenades would be located. Twenty years later there isn’t a single restaurant or retail shop located there, why not? Federal money was used to fund the project because they claimed it was a “blighted area”. I fail to see how over one hundred wooded acres can be a blighted area.
6. The City Council created an arts district in Town center in 2020, but the district has been moribund, and more recently may be further elbowed by a planned YMCA on land previously dedicated for an arts center. What role should the city have in facilitating (not creating, to be sure) arts and culture? Is the city doing enough? Would you favor dedicating a permanent source of revenue from the Town Center CRA to the arts, as had been the original intention in 2020?
I feel the city should play a role in advancing the arts, however Flagler is still a relatively small county to be taking on a such large endeavor especially when we have had a successful arts program at the Flagler Auditorium. Why are we dividing resources by creating a “City Arts Program”? I believe we should build upon what we have especially when it benefits our students so well. The lack of a proper pool for a Florida County of over 125,000 people is a testament to municipal governments failure. A multi generational facility with a appropriate pool should have been in planning and started when the real estate recession ended in 2017.
7. The West Side, west of U.S. 1, is poised to potentially double Palm Coast’s size, or close to it, with the development of the acreage through which the city secured substantial funding for the connector road from Matanzas Parkway to Palm Coast Parkway. Is the city capable of handling that expansion even as its existing infrastructure—stormwater, roads (think congestion), parks—east of U.S. 1 experiences shortfalls and draws residents’ complaints? How would you balance that expansion with the needs in east Palm Coast—or change infrastructure management?
Let’s take care of the East Side of Palm Coast first. We have a population “explosion” here that needs to be reckoned with. If this push to develop the West side of Route 1 is to accommodate a developer let the developer pick up the tab.
8. Palm Coast’s saltwater canals may need dredging. It’s never been done in the 50-year existence of the city and its ITT antecedent. But the canals—like those recreational amenities mentioned above–are limited to a few neighborhoods. If and when it comes to that, who should pay for the dredging, and through what taxing mechanism?
I think before we talk about taxing and or methods of payment we need to determine the magnitude of the problem. My educated guess would be that the silting problem is confined to the smaller side canals because of the lack of boat travel and slow tidal flow. If I am correct in my assumption the cost would be greatly reduced. But we won’t know this until soundings are taken.
The city paid for an exhaustive evaluation of the canal matter, and its consultant determined the range and extent of dredging ahead. While the consultant found that the problem is not as acute as originally believed, what remains would still cost millions of dollars, requiring a new source of revenue–raising taxes, or establishing special taxing districts, since grants are, according to the consultant, unlikely to pick up the tab, and Flagler/Palm Coast have lost their legislative gravy trains. Given those realities, and the city having placed this on its list of priorities, who should pay, and through what mechanism?
9. Describe in one paragraph the principal qualities you will seek in the new city manager you will be responsible for hiring, and what expectations you will have from that manager from day one.
First and foremost, I would be looking for a city manager with prior management experience. In almost any organization the higher one advances up the corporate or organizational ladder the fewer technical skills are required and the ability to manage people becomes paramount in getting the job done. Secondly, I would seek a personable city manager because interaction with the public is an integral part of the job.
Would you accept a candidate who’s managed cities the size of Bunnell or Flagler Beach for many years, or a candidate who has no advanced degrees beyond a B.A., if that?
See my original answer, with the addition of a degree in Public Administration. The size of the city is somewhat irrelevant. Span of Control, the number of people one manager or supervisor can effectively supervise is generally five people.
10. Palm Coast relies on the sheriff for policing. Evaluate that relationship as it stands today. What is your analysis of the latest method of hiring what would amount to five additional deputies a year for the next three years, based primarily on call volume, and how would you pay for it? Do you favor an independent police department for the city, now or in the near future?
I think the Sheriff’s Office is doing a good job given the rapid increase in population. To my knowledge calls for service are not “stacked” and response time is good. I believe creating an independent Palm Coast Police Department is a decision for the people to make, visa-vie a referendum, and not a decision that should be left to the city council. Please note that the addition of a stand alone police force will ad many dollars to the city budget.
11. 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? Have you ever been demoted? If so, please explain, including cases where charges or claims did not lead to conviction or disciplinary action.
No.
Just to clarify: in all your years on the police force, you were never the subject of an internal affairs investigation?
I have Never been the subject of an internal affairs investigation.
Gina Weiss says
Ray Stevens is a man who tells it like it is and that speaks for himself,
he is not a bought and sold candidate for the developers , he is the person
that Palm Coast needs to get back on the right track as he reveals above.
Many current officials, developers and candidates are intimidated by
him since he is not a puppet and cannot be controlled, manipulated,
or managed , he is a person of true integrity and will work hard for
the citizens of Palm Coast and understands the core problems that
exist, he has lived here for over 20 years and is very well respected
among his peers so if you want a no BS city councilman vote for Ray
Stevens.
Vanessa Carlson Kaiser says
Couldn’t have said it better myself! I have known Ray Stevens and his family for many years and was involved in his campaigns for Sheriff. I have always known him to be an honest and decent man who lives his private life and public life the same! With dignity and decency and honor. Words you don’t hear very much in politics anymore!
John Orlando says
Please ask Mr. Stevens what he plans to do about the unbearable noise from Flagler airport. If he has attended any City Council meetings then I’m sure he has heard the residents complaints.
Celia Pugliese says
John you can ask your questions directly to Ray Stevens he’ll be more than glad to talk about it. All his info here: https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?op=cv&e=37&c=flagler&ca=661&rellevel=4&committee=N
Regarding our conversations with him; the normal airport noise never been and is not a problem. The noise lately since 2018 and before, created by the brought in flight schools training off the FIN airport is the problem. Imagine 160,000 a year mostly “free touch and goes” and rounds over residential communities!! Sure he is aware of residents complaints also including ignored traffic issues to be also resolved in city and county meetings. My advise is call Ray. By the way such nuisance from an airport that ends its annual report a million in the read, public record.
Also when it comes to Ray’s candidate financial disclosure sure is very clear and can be seeing in the SOE website and requested records from FL State, nothing to hide about it nothing blurry. We need Ray Stevens in PC City Council.
Concerned taxpayer says
This candidate is a joke! NO financial or strategic planning experience! His “resume” is a NOTHING. And, how about that blurry financial disclosure!!??
Celia Pugliese says
The real Joke is you here while hiding your identity and why? Ray Stevens is running for city council and not city accountant! His resume/profile in The SOE website and everywhere tell us exactly who we need in city council to work with Pontieri and not with developers or special interest as we need Ray Stevens! Really blurry is you hiding behind an alias! C’mon come out of your den and lets see were in the county government you seat, if so? Pretty cowardly hit and hide! Sure not who you support is whom we need!
Vanessa Carlson Kaiser says
Agree 100%!!! Celia! You are a warrior for truth and there are more than a few of us who stand behind you in supporting Ray!
Celia Pugliese says
TY Vanessa those of us here for a long time have enjoyed our city but also enduring the wrong doing at times from those we have confident elect ed to represent us. We need change and this is the reason that all my support is for Ray Stevens District 3, a man of integrity that we need in our council with the professional experience and credentials required by the position and that endures the same problems we all endure that if elected, he will be out to resolve or bring some improvement at least! We need a strong willed councilman not afraid to tell it like it is and look for resolutions. Someone that knows and resides in Palm Coast over 20 years and not a just arrival barely acquainted with our City of Palm Coast. Vote Ray Stevens!
Rose says
Why didn’t you list all who are running for office. I believe you aren’t being fair. Residents of Palm Coast should see who is on the ballot. We have enough dirty politics here in Flagler County. I don’t think you need to add to it. Be fair to everyone.
FlaglerLive says
If you’re referring to the boxed list of candidates, those are the published interviews. Additional names are added as their interviews are published. They all will appear.
Backslapping Commission says
Concerned taxpayer: Obviously you are confused and intimidated with your 2 line rant.
Ray Stevens is NOT running for City Accountant or for City Financial Planner! Ray Stevens
is running for a city councilman position AND Ray Stevens has the administrative experience
to fulfill the obligations of that position. The financial statements are on file with the
Supervisor of Elections and the Board of Ethics which are available for public viewing.
The blurriness is due to the transferring of the documents which has nothing to do with
Mr. Stevens. Get your facts straight!
Celia Pugliese says
John Orlando, we sure know how bad the flight schools students training over your roof is affecting you and all your neighbors. Ray has even spent in attorney with still and open not answered letter legal presented issue.
We all need to unite regarding the schools. We have no problem with the airport never had it. These many flights schools practicing over Palmcoasters are the problem and the . Call Ray and get acquainted…I live in PC since 1991 and sure learned a lot since then and that is why I am voting for Ray.
James says
A lot off off the cuff and general answers that lack the research, experience and conviction we need as a city council member. This guy already sounds checked out. Strategic plan? What’s that? It’s only posted on the website and this guy never heard of it? We don’t necessarily need an accountant but need someone who understands numbers. You can’t simply say no to tax increases but then want 8 more police without making cuts or new ways of generating revenue. What cuts would you make? You need someone who can make the best decision and it is not easy. This guy doesn’t give much encouragement with his answers. His only original idea is to allow >3 minutes so the city council meetings are 6 hours long! His profile is vague and he resorts to mudslinging other candidates instead of showing us how he will get the job done.
Jane says
I have been blocked by Ray Steven’s for questioning him on his Facebook page. It only takes a quick Google search to see, ‘If your elected official or government associated organization is using their social media account as a government actor, they cannot block you based on views you’ve expressed in public conversation or restrict your access to their profile based solely on your viewpoints. Certain speech, however, is not protected under the First Amendment, like threats.
If government officials allow positive or neutral comments on their social media posts, they cannot delete your comments simply because you criticized them — that would be unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.
Likewise, government officials cannot block you from accessing their social media pages simply because you’ve made critical comments about them. On Twitter, for example, you cannot be blocked because you’ve made a critical tweet at an official.
You also have the right to access publicly available information about government operations, including information provided through government officials’ social media accounts. The government cannot make it more difficult for you to access that information because you’ve made critical posts or comments about it. ‘
How about that, Flagler Live? Why not report on that. Or are you too one sided to call out Ray Stevens?
FlaglerLive says
Ray Stevens has not been elected to office. As a candidate, he does not have to comply with the social media requirements that apply to elected officials, nor does he have to comply with the Sunshine Law (he is free to have conversations or any kind of contact with elected council members).