AskFlagler Palm Coast City Council Interview: Ray Stevens

Ray Stevens is one of three candidates running for the Palm Coast City Council’s District 3 seat, vacated by an outgoing Nick Klufas. Due to Palm Coast’s term limits, Klufas was barred from running for another term, and is instead seeking election to the Flagler County Commission. Stevens has two opponents: Dana ‘Mark’ Stancel and Andrew Werner. Because the race is nonpartisan, all three candidates will appear on the August primary ballot for Palm Coast residents regardless of party affiliation. If none of the three achieve 50.0% plus one vote, the top two will move on to a runoff in November. If one of them does earn one more vote than 50.0%, that candidate wins the race in August.

The 2024 primary election is on Tuesday, August 20th. Palm Coast voters will be able to vote for Mayor, and the City Council seats for Districts 1 and 3. Whether residents reside in a given district does not prevent them from voting in all districts that are up for election.

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: Protected information

Hometown: New York City, New York

Career/Educational Resume: “I am a retired Police Lieutenant from New York and a former Pinellas County Deputy Sheriff. My last assignment in New York before I retired was that of Administrative Lieutenant. My duties and responsibilities included, Personnel Management, Public Information, Information services,Management, Special Events Planning, Development and Implementation of Traffic Facilitation plans, and Problem Intersection Assessment. I am a graduate of Pace University NY. I was an adjunct Professor at Keiser College, Daytona Beach.”

1. Describe your experience forming and managing budgets, aside from personal/home finance.

“As a department head I had to live within the parameters of the money allotted to my division as prescribed and in accordance with the overall police department department budget. “

2. Is Palm Coast growing too rapidly? If so: what makes the growth excessive, and what should the City Council be doing differently? If not: what would you say to ease the concerns of those worried about the pace of growth?

“Yes, I believe the rapid and excessive growth is a direct reflection of rezoning, not reflective of the original Master Plan, up-zoning, and spot zoning. in conjunction with the  headlong rush by the city council to approve large development projects with out considering all the ramifications and effects they may have on the overall infrastructure. The failure to take pause to consider the unintended consequences that such projects are likely to cause exacerbates the situation.

“As city councilman I would take a more cautious approach to major development proposals. “

3. What do you make of the expression ‘development pays for itself’? Is that true in Palm Coast?

“With increased development comes increased costs. Specifically, infrastructure, emergency services, schools, and public works. The key is gradual development allowing for the city to keep pace with the changes.”

4. Are there any new or underutilized revenue streams you can name that Palm Coast could tap into to support its operating budget? If so, expand upon your plan for implementation.

“People and government both have a tendency to live up to their income. If you increase the revenue source for the city they will spend up that amount. What is needed is to reduce cost and expenditures.”

5. What’s your opinion on the firing of City Manager Denise Bevan? Was the firing necessary, and was it handled well by the City Council?

“I can not answer whether or not her firing was justified, she did not work for me. However, I believe it was not well handled at all. Management 101, you praise in public you chastise in private. Her firing should have taken place at a private meeting and then announced to the public.”

6. Give your evaluation of these city leaders: interim City Manager Lauren Johnston, Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo, and Stormwater & Engineering Director Carl Cote.

“I know them but I cannot evaluate their performance, at this point, as an outsider.”

7. Though Palm Coast has taken steps to plan educational and vocational opportunities for its graduating residents, many Gen-Z Palm Coast residents complain of little recreation or entertainment in the city that appeals to them. Is there anything the City Council can or should do to address these complaints?

“Gen-Z is a fairly broad spectrum. The city has in place a number of recreational opportunities, a softball league, baseball teams, skate board ramps etc. For the older portion of that spectrum who seek a night life better opportunities for such exist in Daytona Beach.”

8. City Council members are paid $24,097 a year, thanks to a raise the Council approved for itself in 2022. The Mayor makes $30,039 comparatively. Are you in favor of revisiting these figures, either to increase or decrease them, if you’re elected to the City Council?

“By today’s standards $24,039 is a fairly low salary. In this economic environment I believe the salaries should remain as they are, at least for the foreseeable future.”