AskFlagler Palm Coast City Council Interview: Ty Miller

Ty Miller is one of four candidates running for the District 1 seat on the Palm Coast City Council. He faces fellow challengers Kathy Austrino, Shara Brodsky, and Jeffery Seib. None of these four candidates have held elected office before; the seat was opened up by Vice Mayor Ed Danko’s decision to run for County Commission instead of seeking another term.

The Palm Coast City Council elections, including Mayor, will be open to all residents of Palm Coast regardless of their party affiliation or whether they reside in the applicable district. In the District 1 race, a primary election will be held on August 20th with Austrino, Brodsky, Miller, and Seib appearing on the ballot. If one of those candidates receives one vote more than 50.0%, they’ll win the seat then and there. If none reach that threshold, the top-two in votes will advance to a runoff election on the November ballot.

Other Candidate Interviews

Flagler County Commission:

• Andy Dance – Flagler County Commission, District 1
• Fernando Melendez – Flagler County Commission, District 1
• Kim Carney – Flagler County Commission, District 3
• Bill Clark – Flagler County Commission, District 3 (Did Not Complete)
• Nick Klufas – Flagler County Commission, District 3
• Ed Danko – Flagler County Commission, District 5
• Michael McElroy – Flagler County Commission, District 5
• Pam Richardson – Flagler County Commission, District 5

Flagler School Board:

• Derek Barrs – Flagler School Board, District 3
• Janie Ruddy – Flagler School Board, District 3
• Lauren Ramirez – Flagler School Board, District 5
• Vincent Sullivan – Flagler School Board, District 5

East Flagler Mosquito Control Board:

• Julius ‘Jules’ Kwiatkowski – East Flagler Mosquito Control Board, Seat 1
• Perry Mitrano – East Flagler Mosquito Control Board, Seat 1
• Lance Alred – East Flagler Mosquito Control Board, Seat 3
• Ralph Lighfoot – East Flagler Mosquito Control Board, Seat 3

Palm Coast City Council:

• David Alfin – Palm Coast Mayor
• Peter Johnson – Palm Coast Mayor
• Alan Lowe – Palm Coast Mayor
• Cornelia Downing Manfre – Palm Coast Mayor
• Mike Norris – Palm Coast Mayor (Did Not Complete)
• Kathy Austrino – Palm Coast City Council, District 1
• Shara Brodsky – Palm Coast City Council, District 1
• Ty Miller – Palm Coast City Council, District 1
• Jeffery Seib – Palm Coast City Council, District 1
• Dana ‘Mark’ Stancel – Palm Coast City Council, District 3
• Ray Stevens – Palm Coast City Council, District 3
• Andrew Werner – Palm Coat City Council, District 3

Interview Criteria

• The object of the interview is not to grill the candidate, nor to give them softballs. Ideally, in their answers the candidates provide to voters a useful insight into their ideology, their priorities, and their knowledgeability and preparedness for office.
• These questions are sent to each declared candidate in Flagler County’s local elections. All candidates running for the same office received the same exact questions.
• The only edits made are for spelling, formatting and basic grammar (i.e., ‘their’ when it should be ‘there’). Censorship of profanity may also be applied if it were applicable. Otherwise, answers are presented in their full form as the candidate provides them.
• Answers are subject to fact-checking if they contain information that’s blatantly misleading or untrue (misrepresenting factually verifiable information, misquoting a statistic, etc). Clarifications will be added underneath the candidate’s answer if applicable. The answers will still be presented as given even if a fact-check or clarification is needed.

Candidate Interview

Date of Birth: June 26th, 1981

Hometown: “Dade City, Florida and have called Palm Coast home for most of the past 26 years.”

Career/Educational Resume: Click to View Resume

1. Describe your experience forming and managing budgets, aside from personal/home finance.

“I have over a decade of experience in high-level business, specifically as a project manager overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets. My role involved allocating resources efficiently, reducing costs, and ensuring projects were delivered on time and within budget. These skills will help me ensure that Palm Coast’s taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently.”

2. Is Palm Coast growing too rapidly? If so: what makes the growth excessive, and what should the City Council be doing differently? If not: what would you say to ease the concerns of those worried about the pace of growth?

“Palm Coast is growing, but growth itself isn’t the problem—it’s how we manage it. We need to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace and that new developments align with our community’s character. Growth should bring value, not strain, to our city. For those concerned, I’ll advocate for smart growth that balances progress with preservation.”

3. What do you make of the expression ‘development pays for itself’? Is that true in Palm Coast?

“While development can generate revenue, it often doesn’t fully cover the long-term costs of infrastructure, maintenance, and public services. We need to ensure that new developments truly benefit our community and don’t result in higher taxes or strained services down the line.”

4. Are there any new or underutilized revenue streams you can name that Palm Coast could tap into to support its operating budget? If so, expand upon your plan for implementation.

“We could increase our commercial tax base, which is currently underutilized. By attracting businesses, we not only diversify our revenue but also create jobs for residents. Additionally, exploring public-private partnerships can help fund specific projects without burdening taxpayers.”

5. What’s your opinion on the firing of City Manager Denise Bevan? Was the firing necessary, and was it handled well by the City Council?

“I believe leadership changes are sometimes necessary for progress, but they must be handled with transparency and due diligence. The focus should always be on what’s best for Palm Coast, and any decision should be backed by clear communication and respect for all parties involved.”

6. Give your evaluation of these city leaders: interim City Manager Lauren Johnston, Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo, and Stormwater & Engineering Director Carl Cote.

“Lauren Johnston has shown strong leadership during the transition, keeping the city on track. Jason DeLorenzo is effective in his role, particularly in his focus on community relations. Carl Cote’s expertise in stormwater management is crucial, especially given our city’s growth. Overall, they’re performing well, but there’s always room for improvement as we face new challenges.”

7. Though Palm Coast has taken steps to plan educational and vocational opportunities for its graduating residents, many Gen-Z Palm Coast residents complain of little recreation or entertainment in the city that appeals to them. Is there anything the City Council can or should do to address these complaints?

“We need to listen to our younger residents and consider how to make Palm Coast more vibrant for all ages. Encouraging businesses that cater to diverse interests and exploring partnerships for youth programs can make our city more engaging without compromising our values.”

8. City Council members are paid $24,097 a year, thanks to a raise the Council approved for itself in 2022. The Mayor makes $30,039 comparatively. Are you in favor of revisiting these figures, either to increase or decrease them, if you’re elected to the City Council?

“I believe in fiscal responsibility. Any changes to compensation should be justified by performance and workload, not automatic. Public service should focus on the commitment to the community rather than compensation.I will say that regardless of whether anyone agrees with the raise or not I don’t think any council should give itself a raise effective immediate; I believe that any changes to compensation should take effect with the next council to avoid conflict of interest.”