Jeani Duarte is one of three candidates running for the District 2 seat on the Palm Coast City Council. The seat is being vacated by an outgoing Theresa Carli Pontieri, who is running for Flagler County Commission instead of seeking another term. Duarte’s opponents are Tony Amaral Jr. and Jimmy Hengy. None of the three 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)
- Christy Chong (District 4)
- Ron Long (District 4)
- Trevor Tucker (District 4)
Palm Coast City Council:
- Jeani Duarte (District 2)
- 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:
Hometown: Palm Coast
Career/Educational Resume: “Hello, my name is Jeani Duarte, and I am a candidate for Palm Coast City Council, District 2. I’m retired, married to a retired United States Marine, and a proud grandmother.
“I have owned several small businesses, including a bakery, event catering, owned short-term and long-term rental properties, raised a large family and have done major remodeling on several properties over the years. These experiences taught me budgeting, customer service, financial responsibilities, contracts, inventory and time management.
“I am also a certified fitness nutrition specialist and enjoy helping others make positive, healthy lifestyle changes for free and for fun.
“My years of attending Palm Coast City Council meetings, researching local issues, and reviewing public records have prepared me to serve with integrity, common sense, and a commitment to transparency. I believe in fiscal responsibility, protecting our natural resources, and keeping infrastructure ahead of growth.”
1) Describe any relevant experience you have managing budgets, particularly situations that demanded difficult cuts.
“Owning several small businesses and raising a family taught me how to manage budgets, prioritize spending, and make difficult financial decisions. Government should live within its means. Every taxpayer dollar should be spent responsibly and provide value to our residents.”
2) How would you assess the City Council’s productivity and decorum over the past two years?
“1 am solution driven. Productivity should be measured by solving problems, not by the length of meetings. Residents deserve efficient meetings, open discussion, transparency, and decisions based on facts. Council should spend less time revisiting issues and more time delivering measurable results for our community.”
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.
“Developers have every right to advocate for their projects. City Council’s responsibility is to balance growth with the needs of existing residents. Growth needs to be responsible, infrastructure must come first, and development should protect our natural resources and quality of life while supporting a strong local economy.”
4) How is Palm Coast performing at engaging their residents? Do you have ideas to improve communication and/or transparency?
“Transparency remains one of Palm Coast’s biggest challenges. Residents deserve better communication, easier access to information, and meaningful opportunities to participate in local decisions. I support improving online accessibility, providing timely public information, and creating better ways for residents to communicate with their elected officials and City departments.”
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 should be guided by careful planning, accountability, and long-term sustainability not simply by the pace of development. Growth needs to pay its fair share and infrastructure first, rather than shifting costs to existing residents through higher taxes or utility rates.
“Palm Coast also has unique economic assets, including Interstate 95, the Florida East Coast Railway, the Intracoastal Waterway, nearby beaches, and the historic Old Brick Road. These assets can attract businesses, create jobs, and generate ‘Stop and Go’ revenue without relying solely on residential growth. By diversifying our economy, protecting our natural resources, and keeping infrastructure ahead of growth, we can support and preserve the quality of life that makes Palm Coast a great place to live.”
6) What actions should the City Council take now to ensure the resilience of its infrastructure in the coming years?
“Our priority should be maintaining and improving existing infrastructure before approving additional growth. Fiscal responsibility means investing wisely in utilities, water, wastewater, stormwater, roads, and public safety so existing residents are not paying tomorrow for decisions made today. This means revisiting ALL budgets starting at the top.”
7) How would you describe your temperament in contentious discussions?
“I believe in respectful, fact-based discussions. I listen carefully, ask questions, and focus on finding practical solutions. Even when opinions differ, respect and ‘open dialogue’ lead to better decisions for our community. As a resident, getting two words out without getting cut off or waiting hours to comment one-sided on a topic has been an issue. Our Council needs to improve on their public relations skills and respect that the power belongs to the people.”
8) What are the most important qualities you’d expect working with Palm Coast’s city manager?
“Honesty, transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. A City Manager should provide accurate information, manage taxpayer resources wisely, transparently and lawfully. Must communicate openly and honestly with both council and residents.”
