Four people are challenging Mayor David Alfin in the upcoming election, which will determine who will chair the City Council for the next four years. Managing the growth as the city's population continues to explode will be one challenge. Hiring a new city manager will be another.
The primary is Aug. 20. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, he or she will be elected mayor of Palm Coast. If no one gets more than 50%, the top two candidates will face off in November. The race is non-partisan and open to all registered voters.
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Here are the candidates:
David Alfin, 71, incumbent mayor, real estate broker associate, Boar’s Head distributor, president of Alfin Fragrances. Alfin was elected mayor in July 2021 with 36% of the vote in a winner-take-all race among six competitors. Before winning that race, Alfin had lost a race for the District 2 seat in 2020.
Peter Johnson , 31, a self-employed handyman. This is his first time running for office.
Alan Lowe , 63, a handyman and landlord, has unsuccessfully run for office twice before including in the crowded 2021 mayoral race won by Alfin. Lowe finished second with 26% of the vote. Lowe also lost in a race for the District 2 seat in 2022. Lowe declared himself a “sovereign citizen” in 1993 and 1994. When asked about it when he first ran for the mayor's seat, he said it was a pattern of thought that lasted briefly three decades ago.
Cornelia Manfre, 67, a commercial investment advisor and luxury consultant. Manfre ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2021, finishing with 24% of the vote.
Mike Norris, 54, a retired Army officer and owner of two small businesses in Palm Coast, pressure washing and painting and Aloha Critters, a pet care service. Norris said it was the first time running for office.
The candidates received the same list of questions. Their replies were edited for space as well as proper grammar and capitalization.
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What qualifications are you looking for in a new city manager?
Alfin: Proven experience, fiscal conservative, leadership, honesty, integrity and kindness. In all my years in business, successful people have these qualities and must like to work hard.
Johnson: Palm Coast needs to hire a city manager who is firm, fiscally responsible and creative in providing practical, both short- and long-term solutions while valuing every single tax dollar. I would look for the new manager to have experience in a slightly larger city, to have the proper knowledge of navigating Palm Coast's recent explosion in population.
Lowe: Extensive experience with large municipal budgets; proven track record in economic development; leadership experience with large teams.
Manfre: Financial forecasting and planning; employee resource experience; capable of reviewing the inner workings of departments within City Hall to confirm efficiencies and performance; and education and prior experience within a larger community.
Norris : An external hire with a minimum graduate level education and job-related experience, who can manage a growing city. I am looking for someone specifically who is not beholden to special interests and politicians here in our county.
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How would you rate the city’s management of its growth and development? And what would you do differently, if anything?
Alfin : I opened the entire Comprehensive Plan (written 25 years ago) for all residents to review and share their vision for the city. The city uses its comprehensive plan to focus on preserving natural resources, provide high-quality public facilities, and create a community with diverse housing and jobs. I also advocate for carefully balanced "inevitable" growth through environmental conservation and historical preservation guardrails and requirements. If I were to suggest improvements it would be repair and upgrade of infrastructure and a focus on housing affordability.
Johnson: Rating them by what? Grades? F. Out of 10? 0. The city has done an extremely poor job of managing growth on the residential side. We have seen a significant decline in property quality; more stick-built houses being built than block; lots in new developments much smaller with houses much closer; parcels of land being clear-cut in droves and native plants and animals being displaced. The current council is paving the way for excessive residential development with little commercial development to balance.
Lowe: I believe the city has put the cart before the horse regarding development. Our infrastructure is in dire need of modernization and repair, yet we lack adequate funding. As your representative, I would prioritize the maintenance of our existing infrastructure, including water treatment facilities, roads and flood management. It's crucial to balance growth with our infrastructure capabilities to ensure sustainable development.”
Manfre: The management of the approval process is lengthy and sometimes elongated. The development application and approval process for commercial and industrial projects need to be fast-tracked. The approval process should be final to allow these job-producing projects to start their construction without additional changes.
Norris : I would rate it as poor. The focus of this city has been, for the most part, residential housing developments without the forethought of diversification of the tax base. Ninety-three percent of our ad valorem taxes comes from individual homeowners. This is not a sustainable model for any city. My focus will be attracting industrial and commercial growth that will provide upward mobility for our residents and kids coming out of high school. More than half of our available working-age residents leave the city and county every morning to go work somewhere else.
What are three of the biggest challenges facing Palm Coast?
Alfin : Infrastructure, investment and economic development and quality of life.
Johnson: Rebuilding trust between the community and the council. 2. Funding and maintenance of our existing infrastructure. 3. Offsetting the residential tax base with new businesses.
Lowe : With the recent term limit of our area representative in Tallahassee and the governor, we might see a reduction in state appropriations. We must find innovative ways to increase revenue without burdening our residents. Economic development is a great place to start. Growth is outpacing infrastructure, so the city needs to have discussions with developers to prioritize infrastructure. The city must tighten its budget and make cuts so people are not pushed to their financial limits.
Manfre : Hiring an experienced and qualified city manager; developing continued swale maintenance; and planning and budgeting infrastructure repairs and expansion.
Norris: Failing Infrastructure; lack of diversity in tax revenue to the city’s coffers, caused by residential over development; and lack of industries that could provide competitive salaries and upward mobility for our residents.
Why should voters vote for you?
Alfin: Alfin responded by sending a list of items, including rolled-back tax millage rate for streamlined government efficiency; overhauled Palm Coast’s comprehensive plan to guide future development; ensuring safety and economic viability; secured financing for construction of a new fire station in the Seminole Woods section; developed water quality protection plan. Alfin also listed new businesses opening in town, including a Miller’s Ale House, a Tire Outlet and a BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Johnson: Because I am a resident, not a developer.
Lowe: I have been deeply involved in our community and local government for many years, bringing issues and solutions to the forefront at city hall." Lowe said his involvement included speaking at government meetings and proposing solutions to problems. "As a 41-year resident of Palm Coast, I have seen the good and the not-so-good, and I understand the direction our community wants to take. I know our history and thus how to move us forward. My extensive experience as a self-employed business owner gives me a unique perspective on our local economy and the needs of our developers.
Manfre: I provide the community with over 40 years of business and commercial development experience and 25 years as a Palm Coast resident. With work in Fortune 100 firms, I was trained to be a problem-solver, accountable for budget projections and performance within those guidelines.
Norris said that his more-than 24 years of military service trained him to lead. He has also worked for the state’s Department of Highway Safety as a compliance safety officer in the motor carrier division and as a critical infrastructure protection officer for the federal government. He holds master’s degrees in management and leadership and human resources management. He said he has been attending City Council meetings regularly since he decided to run for office in 2022.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Election 2024: Meet the 3 candidates challenging Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin
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