Dance in the Fourth of July parade last year in Flagler Beach. ⓒ AskFlagler
County Commissioner Andy Dance was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday, defeating challenger Fernando Melendez. The win secures his second four-year term, having first been elected in 2020. He won with 70.27% over Melendez’s 29.73%.
Dance’s election was open to all registered voters, because although both he and Melendez are Republicans, them being the only two filed candidates keeps their election from becoming a closed Republican primary. If it’d been three Republicans, there’d have been an open primary with the top two candidates advancing to the November ballot (as long as a winner didn’t eclipsed 50%).
One singular candidate of non-Republican filing would’ve closed the Dance-Melendez race to Republican voters only, as happened with the other two County Commission races. Those contests were cut off from all non-registered Republicans, meaning GOP voters would solely decide who would face a blank line in November (each race got one write-in candidate).
Dance’s victory continues one of the longest-running continuous careers in public office among Flagler County officials, with Dance spending twelve years on the Flagler School Board prior to joining the County Commission in 2020. He beat Democrat Corinne Hermle four years ago, and has now dispatched Melendez this year. Dance is now guaranteed a 20-year combined tenure of serving in Flagler County elected office.
Fernando Melendez, left, speaks with outgoing Commissioner Donald O’Brien. ⓒ AskFlagler
“I am humbled by the support of my community and I am committed to the hard work ahead to make Flagler County the best place in Florida to live!” Dance said on social media following his win. “Thank you!”
For Melendez, it’s his second campaign in the last two election cycles. He also ran for Palm Coast City Council in 2022, losing by a little over 3,000 votes. Melendez has said this would be his last political campaign for the foreseeable future if it wasn’t successful. As of recent campaign contribution reports, Dance had over four times as much money in his account than Melendez, with Dance’s expenditures also dwarfing his challenger’s.
“Tonight’s loss wasn’t expected, but never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it,” Melendez wrote. “It is worth it. I want to thank all that supported our campaign and believed in me THANK YOU! And I would also like to congratulate my opponent Commissioner Andy Dance. The people have spoken and in our beautiful and free country that is our right. All differences put aside, may God Bless our governments stewardship of our county. Again Thank you and God bless you all.”
