Palm Coast Councilman Victor Barbosa Resigns His Seat

UPDATE 3/2 5:41 pm: Victor Barbosa reached out to AskFlagler and stated that the trespass order he’d received from Walmart has now been lifted.

UPDATE 1:55 am: Alan Lowe, the other candidate in the race for Barbosa’s former seat, has also confirmed he will stay in the election to succeed Barbosa with a four-year term. Read Lowe’s full reaction below.

UPDATE 7:03 pm: One of Barbosa’s former opponents in the Council race, Sims Jones, gave his statement: I was a little surprised that he dropped out, because it seemed like he never would just back out. But I think something must be up, because first he dropped out [in the race for] County Commissioner, and then this thing would be short lived. Then, you know, it was time for him to go. But, you know, I was kind of looking forward to debating him, but now I just have to find somebody else to debate with. ”

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Jones also confirmed he would stay in the 2022 election to succeed Barbosa, and would not apply to serve the interim term on Barbosa’s seat via Council appointment.

UPDATE 6:16 pm: Victor Barbosa posted an open resignation letter stating the following:

“I, Victor Barbosa fear for my life. I repeat I fear for my life. All I wanted to do was help small businesses, fight corruption, and be the voice of the people of the community. I now understand why Council Member Howell resigned.

Effective immediately, I resign from City Council and withdraw my candidacy from the 2022 election. 

Thank you to all that voted for me. All I want is my peace back.

Victor Barbosa”

This is the first official statement from Barbosa, and the first confirmation that he will not seek to win his seat back in 2022. Barbosa referenced former Councilman Jack Howell, who resigned due to a cancer battle in 2020.

UPDATE 6:11 pm: The City Council will appoint an interim Council member to fill out the rest of Barbosa’s term on March 22nd. Applicants will be able to apply for the position for a limited time within that time window. This is the second four-year term in a row for the Council’s District 2 seat that it is divided between multiple officeholders. Councilman Jack Howell resigned, and had his term filled out by former Mayor Jon Netts.

UPDATE 6:03 pm: Mayor David Alfin delivered the following remarks at the onset of the Tuesday City Council meeting: “I simply want to give voice to our unity as a community – to reassure to all who call this beautiful City of Palm Coast home – that your City Council will continue to work together full-heartedly to ensure you receive the leadership you’ve come to expect and deserve. Nothing can be more important to all who sit before you on this dais.”

UPDATE 5:01 pm: Barbosa’s former re-election opponent Alan Lowe commented: “Considering the latest things, maybe he made the right choice, though I was looking forward to debates and comparing platforms. I’m shocked, I really don’t know what to say.”

Barbosa called Alan Lowe ‘a piece of sh–‘ in a now-deleted Facebook post made Tuesday morning.

UPDATE 4:58 pm: Councilman Nick Klufas commented also: “I just hope Victor finds peace and happiness in whatever he does moving forward, and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. I do believe that his heart was in the right place for a lot of his initiatives on City Council, and I’m hopeful that whatever path he wants to pursue that he is successful.”

UPDATE: 4:18 pm: Councilman Ed Danko commented on Barbosa’s resignation: “I think it’s appropriate that Victor has resigned. Walmart is one of our largest employers. These are our friends, these are our neighbors, they pay a lot of taxes in Palm Coast. Victor’s conduct is unbecoming of a Palm Coast City Councilman. It’s called Be Local, Buy Local, not Be Local, Shoplift Local.”

UPDATE 4:10 pm: Former Councilman Barbosa declined to answer questions.

PALM COAST – Palm Coast City Councilman Victor Barbosa has submitted his resignation to City Hall today, the city government has confirmed. The news comes the day after Barbosa was trespassed from the city’s Walmart location for alleged shoplifting.

Barbosa’s resignation is the second such major drop from the City Council since summer 2021, when then-Mayor Milissa Holland resigned unexpectedly. In addition to this latest tangle with law enforcement, Barbosa is also believed by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to be a fugitive from Costa Rica on charges of robbery, extortion, and kidnapping. It is not yet known if these charges are related to Barbosa’s sudden resignation.

Barbosa’s resignation is effective immediately, meaning he will not be part of tonight’s City Council business meeting. Barbosa announced just weeks ago that he would seek re-election for his current Council seat; it’s currently unclear if he will hop back in the race. More will be added to this story as it develops.