Michael McElroy is one of three candidates running for the Flagler County Commission’s District 5 seat. The seat is being vacated by Donald O’Brien, who is not running for re-election. Unlike his two opponents, Ed Danko and Pam Richardson, McElroy is running as a write-in candidate, meaning voters will have to pencil in his name to vote for him as opposed to filling in a bubble. His name will not be printed on the ballot. McElroy is running without a party affiliation, while Danko and Richardson are both running as Republicans.
McElroy will be up for election on the November 5th general election ballot, in which he’ll face the winner of the Republican primary, to be decided in the August 20th primary. Flagler County residents must be registered Republicans to vote in the Danko/Richardson race on August 20th, but will be able to vote in the general election regardless of party affiliation.
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: “I am 72 years of age.”
Hometown: “I raised a family in suburban New York.”
Career/Educational Resume: “I spent 40 years with the Ossining Police Department, serving as a police lieutenant for 26 of them . I have a B.S. degree from Pace University and graduated from Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak NY. I am also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, as well as the National Crime Prevention Institute.”
1. Do you believe your national political views are relevant to Flagler County voters? If so, explain what you hope those beliefs will communicate to residents about what kind of commissioner you’d be.
“I do believe, as President Trump, that putting our interests as a sovereign nation first, small government and fewer regulations are totally applicable to local government.”
2. What personal qualities do you possess that you believe would make you effective in forming consensus in a group with diverse viewpoints and philosophies?
“I believe what I offer as a public official is dedication, a love of service, experience in government, and a passion to help people.”
3. In the long term, how much of Flagler County should remain undeveloped? Are local elected officials doing enough to prioritize conservation?
“As to conservation, where appropriate, I am open to the idea. Property rights must be taken into account in any decision by public officials. Florida has very strong protections for property owners and they must not be trampled.”
4. How do you view residential versus commercial development in terms of importance to Flagler County’s economic future? Is the county falling behind on either?
“On commercial vs residential, see my answer on property rights. Of course commercial development will help to improve our tax base. Beware of politicians promising they will bring businesses.”
5. Flagler County Commissioners are not bound by any term limits. If not compelled, do you believe in voluntarily relinquishing a seat after a certain number of years? How long would you serve in office if it were up to you?
“I would never serve indefinitely. Voters can exercise term limits on every election cycle.”
You place the responsibility with the voters to ‘exercise term limits’ by voting you out when they see fit. This is inherent in any office without term limits, but it doesn’t explain your personal views on stepping down voluntarily. You said you’d never serve indefinitely, but if voters re-elected you continuously or if no challengers arose, wouldn’t you by definition then be serving indefinitely?
“I am 72, with a grandchild, I could never envision serving beyond two terns. Voters, of course, could decide a shorter cycle or never.”
6. A 2016 study by the New York Times found that coastal flooding in Flagler County had more than doubled since the 60’s and 70’s. What actions can the county government take to help protect its coastal residents from this trend?
“Coastal flooding needs a well developed plan, managing what can be done, where is the money coming from, how is success of the plan gagged.”
You said the issue ‘needs a well developed plan’, but you did not name any specific actions. Are there any which you would presently advocate for?
“On flooding, the proposal I have, so far, seen from the county is to create a tax to pay for their portion. They have not identified the plan beyond it covering their required portion. I am inclined to resist taxes and certainly not without a plan and definition of the success. Is this something they will need to do repeatedly?”
7. Give your evaluation of these county administrative leaders: County Administrator Heidi Petito, City Attorney Al Hadeed, and Special Projects Chief Holly Albanese.
“I cannot and will not make evaluations of people with whom I might work, without personal experience and feedback.”
8. What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your professional career, measured by how it impacted others? What were your next actions?
“As a rookie policeman I learned that assuming things is a disservice to the public and yourself.”
You named a lesson but did not describe what mistake informed it, nor did you touch on how it affected others or what actions you took next. Could you elaborate more on those points?
“When I was a rookie police officer I encountered a young man who the department would see repeatedly for emotional problems. He would fake medical symptoms, but had an alcohol/drug abuse problem. On one occasion, he was having a seizure. My initial thought was he was acting, Turned out he was epileptic.”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
