Dylana ‘Dee’ Galery is one of four candidates running for the Palm Coast City Council’s District 4 seat. The seat is being vacated by an outgoing Charles Gambaro, who is running for U.S. Congress instead of seeking another term. Galery’s opponents are John Kvederis, Ramon Marrero, and Darlene Shelley. None of the four have held elected office before.
The 2026 primary election is on Tuesday, August 18. Palm Coast voters will be able to vote for the City Council seats for Districts 2 and 4. District 3 was also up for election, but Ray Stevens was the only candidate who filed to run and was thus elected unopposed Whether residents reside in a given district does not prevent them from voting in all districts that are up for election.
If one of the candidates receives at least one vote more than 50.0% on August 18, they will win the election then and there. If none do, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff election on November 3.
Other Candidate Interviews
Flagler County Commission:
Flagler School Board:
- Jill Woolbright (District 1)
- Rob Wood (District 2)
- Christy Chong (District 4)
- Ron Long (District 4)
- Trevor Tucker (District 4)
Palm Coast City Council:
- Jeani Duarte (District 2)
- Dylana ‘Dee’ Galery (District 4)
- John Kvederis (District 4)
- Ramon Marrero (District 4)
- Darlene Shelley (District 4)
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: December 5, 1993
Hometown: “I was born in Fort Hood, Texas, grew up in Hastings, Florida, and later moved to Palm Coast.”
Career/Educational Resume: “I currently serve as a Residential Instructor at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Previously, as a National Field Support Manager, I led teams nationwide while managing multimillion dollar budgets and overseeing operations across the country.”
1) Describe any relevant experience you have managing budgets, particularly situations that demanded difficult cuts.
“Throughout my career in leadership and operations, I’ve managed logistics, staffing, travel, and operational budgets where every decision carries financial consequences. My responsibility has always been to balance three priorities at once: serving the client, supporting our employees, and being responsible with every dollar.
“One experience that stands out happened during a project in Bakersfield, California. A client came to us with only five days’ notice and requested a team of 34 employees. After reviewing the scope of work, the timeline, and what the project actually required, I recommended reducing the team to 28 experienced employees instead.
“That wasn’t just about saving money. Last minute projects are usually already behind schedule, so the team arriving has to be productive from day one. Hiring additional employees would have meant recruiting, onboarding, and training, which would have slowed the project down. By sending a smaller team of experienced employees, we met the client’s expectations, kept the project on schedule, reduced unnecessary labor and travel costs, and avoided delays.
“That experience reinforced something I still believe today. Good budgeting isn’t about making cuts for the sake of making cuts. It’s about asking the right questions, understanding the tradeoffs, and making decisions that deliver the best overall outcome. That’s exactly how I’ll approach Palm Coast’s budget. Before asking residents to pay more, I want to know we’ve explored every option, prioritized our greatest needs, and planned for the future. Every taxpayer dollar belongs to the people who earned it, and my responsibility is to make sure it’s spent wisely.”
2) How would you assess the City Council’s productivity and decorum over the past two years?
“I would describe the Council as moderately productive. They’ve taken on some very difficult issues, and they deserve credit for recognizing that Palm Coast’s infrastructure challenges require long term attention. Conversations around utility expansion and planning for future growth are important, and those discussions needed to happen.
“At the same time, when I knock on doors, residents are still asking the same three questions they were asking two years ago: why does my yard flood, why is my utility bill climbing, and why does it take twenty minutes longer to get across town than it used to. If people are still asking those questions years later, that tells me the city council still has some work to be done.
“When it comes to decorum, I believe the Council can do better. I’ve sat in meetings and watched agenda items turn into personal disagreements that had nothing to do with the policy on the table. Residents deserve elected officials who challenge ideas, not each other. Good leadership isn’t about always agreeing. It’s about asking tough questions, respecting different perspectives, and staying focused on solving problems.
“If elected, that’s the standard I’ll hold myself to. I’ll come prepared, ask the questions residents expect me to ask, and make decisions based on facts, not personalities.”
3) Has the advocacy of developers and related professionals been a detriment to Palm Coast in event years? If so, please explain why you think so.
“Yes, at times I believe it has. My concern isn’t that Palm Coast is growing, growth is coming regardless. My concern is that development has sometimes moved forward before the infrastructure was ready, leaving residents to deal with increased traffic, flooding, utility capacity challenges, and rising costs.
“The City Council’s first responsibility is to the people who already call Palm Coast home. Growth should pay for growth: if a development creates the need for additional roads, utility capacity, stormwater improvements, parks, or public safety resources, those costs belong in the project, not on the tax bills of residents who were here first.
“Before I support new development, I want confidence that the infrastructure is ready, the financial impacts have been addressed, and the community will be better because of it. That’s how Palm Coast keeps growing without existing neighborhoods paying the price for it.”
4) How is Palm Coast performing at engaging their residents? Do you have ideas to improve communication and/or transparency?
“This is one of the biggest reasons I decided to run.
“Throughout this campaign, I’ve knocked on doors, hosted town halls, attended community meetings, and spent countless hours talking with residents. One comment I hear over and over is, ‘I wish I had known sooner.’ To me, that’s a communication problem.
“I don’t think residents expect the government to be perfect. They do expect the government to keep them informed before major decisions are made, not after.I want to see more neighborhood meetings, easier to understand budget information, and better communication about major projects before they come before the Council. I also want to see the city offer live chat during Council meetings, so residents watching from home can ask questions and be part of the discussion as it happens, not just watch from the sidelines.
“Residents shouldn’t have to read hundreds of pages of reports to understand how a decision will affect their family. I’ve learned that the best decisions come from listening before you vote. If I’m elected, I’ll continue meeting residents where they are, making myself accessible, and making sure they have a voice in the decisions that shape Palm Coast.”
5) How can Palm Coast approach westward expansion for the best possible outcome? Is the city as prepared for these potential steps as they should be?
“Westward expansion will shape Palm Coast for generations, so we have one opportunity to get it right. My approach is simple: infrastructure comes first. Before I could support significant westward expansion, I need confidence that our utilities have the capacity to serve future residents, our roads and stormwater systems are planned and funded, emergency services can keep pace, and we’re protecting the natural resources that make Palm Coast unique.
“I also don’t want westward expansion to become simply more rooftops. It should be an opportunity to strengthen our local economy by attracting quality employers, expanding our commercial tax base, and creating complete communities where people can live, work, and raise a family. Responsible growth means creating opportunity, not just increasing population. Has the city started planning? Yes. Is the city fully prepared today? I don’t believe so.
“Before approving large scale expansion, I want to know the infrastructure, financing, environmental impacts, and long term maintenance have all been addressed. I won’t vote yes simply because we can build. I’ll vote yes when I know we can support what we’re building for decades to come. Residents should never pay the price for poor planning.”
6) What actions should the City Council take now to ensure the resilience of its infrastructure in the coming years?
“Infrastructure isn’t something people think about until it fails. Then it affects every part of daily life. Residents experience it when neighborhoods flood after heavy rain, roads become congested, or utility costs continue to rise because we’re trying to catch up instead of planning ahead.
“Those aren’t isolated problems. They’re signs that long term planning has to be a higher priority. I want the City Council to continue investing in our utility system, improve stormwater management, maintain our roads, and make sure every major development decision includes a realistic plan for the infrastructure it will require. That means requiring a stormwater and traffic impact study before a project gets approved, not after residents start calling in with problems.
“We also need to prioritize preventive maintenance, replacing aging pipes and clearing drainage systems on a set schedule, instead of waiting until repairs become emergencies that cost far more and disrupt families’ lives in the process. One lesson I’ve learned throughout my career is that it’s almost always less expensive to plan ahead than it is to fix problems later. A stormwater system that’s inspected and maintained on schedule costs a fraction of what it costs to repair flood damaged homes and roads after the fact. Good planning protects taxpayers, strengthens our infrastructure, and preserves Palm Coast’s quality of life for future generations.”
7) How would you describe your temperament in contentious discussions?
“Pressure doesn’t bother me. Making uninformed decisions does. I approach difficult discussions with preparation, patience, and respect. Before I make a decision, I want to understand the facts, ask questions, hear different perspectives, and think through the long term impact. I’d rather spend ten more minutes asking questions than spend ten years fixing the wrong decision.
“I don’t take disagreement personally because I understand that people can have different opinions while still wanting what’s best for Palm Coast. You can challenge an idea without attacking the person presenting it. I believe respectful debate leads to better decisions because it forces us to think critically and consider different viewpoints.
“Residents deserve leaders who stay focused on solving problems, not creating headlines. Every vote I cast will be based on facts, preparation, and what’s in the best interest of our community.”
8) What are the most important qualities you’d expect working with Palm Coast’s city manager?
“The relationship between the City Council and the City Manager only works when it’s built on trust, accountability, and honest communication. I expect a City Manager to provide complete and accurate information, professional recommendations, and the facts needed for the Council to make informed decisions, even when those conversations are difficult, like when a project is behind schedule or over budget and the Council needs to hear that plainly, not have it softened.
“As a council member my job is to ask thoughtful questions, understand the long term impact of our decisions, and hold the organization accountable while respecting the expertise of our professional staff. That means reading the staff report before the meeting, not during it, so the questions I ask actually add something to the conversation. I don’t believe in micromanaging, but I also don’t believe in rubber stamping recommendations.
“Every proposal deserves thoughtful review because our decisions affect the people of Palm Coast. The City Manager works for the Council, and the Council works for the residents. When everyone understands those roles and works together with professionalism, transparency, and mutual respect, residents are the ones who benefit.”
