As election season looms closer, some Palm Coast residents and candidates are concerned city resources are being used to connect voters to Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin ahead of the primary election.
Alfin is running for reelection against four other candidates for the mayor's seat. Complaints arose after the city announced six Town Hall-styled events in July, five of which are solo events with Alfin.
Several of Alfin's opponents spoke out against these events at the June 26 Palm Coast City Council meeting.
“Over the last couple of weeks, I've received numerous Instagrams, Facebook announcements, etcetera, of Mayor Alfin meeting at the City Hall, on taxpayer property, to meet with the mayor. ... [This is] use of public forums for self promotion. I object, and I'm asking for this to stop," said Cornelia Downing Manfre, a mayoral candidate.
Palm Coast recently announced the next series of Town Hall events as part of its efforts to connect with residents and answer questions they might have on specific city projects. Throughout the year, the city has been hosting Town Halls and meet-and-greets, usually with some combination of council members and high-level city staff.
All the events are advertised on the city's social media accounts.
We are very close to an election, and it does give the appearance that perhaps we are supporting myself or Mr. Klufas or the mayor."
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The issue, some say, is that Alfin has five solo events scheduled in July — one Town Hall and four "Meet with the Mayor" events — just over a weeks ahead of the Aug. 20 primary election.
While no Town Hall events were hosted in May, seven solo events were held in March and April. Vice Mayor Ed Danko and council members Nick Klufas, Theresa Carli Pontieri and Cathy Heighter each held one, while Alfin held two.
Only one event, a joint council Town Hall, was scheduled in June, to be held on June 28.
Danko said he had received several phone calls from Alfin’s opponents in the mayoral race, wondering why the city was promoting Alfin’s events.
Danko — who is running for a seat on the Flagler County Commission — even said that, because of appearances, he would no longer participate in future Town Hall meetings as the election dates close in.
“We are very close to an election, and it does give the appearance that perhaps we are supporting myself or Mr. Klufas or the mayor,” Danko said.
Alfin pointed out that scheduled Town Hall events are the result of council consensus to further public outreach and transparency with residents.
I don't know how you could be more transparent than to make yourself available to your public on any question they want to ask.”
— DAVID ALFIN, Palm Coast mayor
“Every one of us has voted repeatedly for additional transparency, and you've heard it from the public about more transparency,” Alfin said. “I don't know how you could be more transparent than to make yourself available to your public on any question they want to ask.”
Alfin also said that the Town Hall events are not just for him, but include all the council members. That is true, though the weekly Saturday events in July will only have Alfin present.
City Attorney Marcus Duffy said that it is not illegal for election candidates to participate in these events, as long as it’s for a public, city-service purpose and does not cross into using city services for campaigning. Regardless, Danko asked Duffy to return to the council with some case law that shows the meetings are not crossing a legal line.
I understand the concern, but I think that it's misplaced.”
— THERESA CARLI PONTIERI, city council member
Pontieri pointed out that holding more Town Halls for residents was a part of the council’s Strategic Action Plan priorities. While council members up for election have certain restrictions on what they can and cannot do — like not using city logos for their campaigns, as an example —so long as that council member stays within those bounds, “town halls should be encouraged,” she said.
“I think it's actually incumbent upon our local officials, whether you're running [for election] or not, to make yourself accessible to the public,” she said. “I understand the concern, but I think that it's misplaced.”
To Pontieri and Alfin’s point, Palm Coast residents have made it clear over the last year that they want more transparency in city projects and feel that communication from the city has not been what it should be.
The public pushback for more transparency has even lead to the development of the Residential Drainage Citizens Advisory Committee and has prompted demands from residents for a forensic audit.
Duffy said he would create a memorandum on specific case law regarding the situation and send it out to the city manager and council members ahead of the next city council meeting.
This story was edited at 10:23 to correct the number of events held in April and March.
