Tony Amaral Jr. 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. Amaral’s opponents are Jeani Duarte 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)
- Rob Wood (District 2)
- Christy Chong (District 4)
- Ron Long (District 4)
- Trevor Tucker (District 4)
Palm Coast City Council:
- Tony Amaral Jr. (District 2)
- 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: July 7, 1973
Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
Career/Educational Resume:
- Flagler Palm Coast High School (Class of 1991)
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Aviation Business Administration, 1991-1996)
- Resident of Palm Coast since 1983
1) Describe any relevant experience you have managing budgets, particularly situations that demanded difficult cuts.
“As a small business owner, father, and husband, I manage budgets daily. As a contractor, I also manage individual project budgets on behalf of homeowners, keeping them within budget while balancing their needs and wants. In 2008, during the recession, we had to make severe cuts to our workforce while trying to retain as many team members as possible. We handled this by working closely with our employees while they made other arrangements for their future, offering them any assistance we could during that transition.”
2) How would you assess the City Council’s productivity and decorum over the past two years?
“I think the City Council has been productive when they are not bickering or making social media posts attacking each other. They have made good decisions in making Belle Terre Parkway safer by adding turn lanes at key points between Palm Coast Parkway and SR-100. They have also worked toward keeping the golf course in city hands and making progress at the Southern Recreation Center. However, I am noticing the pettiness creeping back onto the council, and it is not a good look for Palm Coast.”
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.
“I do believe that some developers have been receiving benefits, such as density increases, without the city receiving equal value in return. Much of this was approved in the past but is only now breaking ground. For example, the ICI Easthampton project received a density increase without a clear public benefit shown for allowing it. Another example was Sawmill Estates changing from townhouses to single-family homes; while presented as a density reduction, the single-family plan actually yielded higher density than if it had been presented that way from the start. Lot sizes were reduced to allow more units, and again, there was no clear public benefit.”
4) How is Palm Coast performing at engaging their residents? Do you have ideas to improve communication and/or transparency?
“Many residents I speak with want to know when and why decisions are made. They are not getting information in time and end up relying on what they hear after the fact. Since running for council, I have had to search for full agenda packets and even submit public records requests to get them sent to me. Recently, the city has begun posting full agendas online and providing live streams on YouTube that can be viewed later. This is a step in the right direction, though packets can sometimes exceed 1,000 pages and feel overwhelming. I will continually look for ways to improve communication and evaluate what is working—and what isn’t—to ensure residents who want information can access it easily.”
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?
“The approach to westward expansion must be cautious. The city needs to set clear expectations and stick to them from the start. We must define and reserve industrial sites with a clear timetable for development so that economic land becomes available sooner rather than later. The city is currently behind on core infrastructure like stormwater, water, and sewer. While progress is being made, we must ensure we stay ahead rather than falling further behind. If westward expansion threatens to move too fast, we must have clear provisions requiring development to pay its way for infrastructure capacity. With careful planning and accountability, westward expansion can benefit both current and future residents for years to come.”
6) What actions should the City Council take now to ensure the resilience of its infrastructure in the coming years?
“The current council has taken important steps toward resilience; now we must ensure those efforts are fully carried through. Stormwater has been addressed by properly funding and staffing the department to tackle backlogged work and establish long-term maintenance. Utilities were addressed through the necessary bond issue—now the priority must be ensuring those funds are spent efficiently to catch up on equipment repairs, replacements, and capacity additions. Finally, our roads are aging and reaching a critical state. Funding road resurfacing over the next several years must remain a top priority so we are not caught reacting to major road failures.”
7) How would you describe your temperament in contentious discussions?
“My temperament in contentious discussions is rooted in trying to understand the other person’s view. We all bring different life experiences to the table. I will fight passionately for my point of view, but I will never dismiss someone else’s perspective. What I will not tolerate is bullying or the use of misinformation to make a point. When that happens, I call it out directly so we can reset and get back to an honest conversation.”
8) What are the most important qualities you’d expect working with Palm Coast’s city manager?
“I expect a City Manager to be a strong leader who can unite staff and execute council goals efficiently. They must be an active listener who considers input from others rather than assuming their way is the only way. A calm, steady temperament is essential for navigating disagreements among council members. I believe these qualities are present in our current City Manager, and they are the exact traits I look forward to working alongside.”
