The results are in: David Alfin has defeated his five challengers and been elected the next Mayor of Palm Coast. He’ll be sworn in next week at City Hall. This is Alfin’s second bid for local office, following an unsuccessful run for City Council back in November.
Though Holland is Palm Coast’s most recently elected Mayor prior to Alfin, Alfin will actually succeed interim Mayor Eddie Branquinho, who assumed the seat immediately following Holland’s resignation in May.
Alfin faced five challengers in his bid for Mayor: fellow Republicans Alan Lowe, Carol Bacha, and Kathy Austrino, and Democrats Cornelia Manfre and Doug Courtney. The race was nonpartisan, meaning that although candidates’ political identities were known, they were each listed on the ballot without party designation.
Alfin’s victory represents a power shift on the Council from the last year or so. Former Mayor Holland was seen as more ideologically close to councilmen Branquinho and Nick Klufas with Ed Danko and Victor Barbosa often standing apart. This has never been a hard and fast rule, however, and the councilmen generally reject notions that they’re inherently aligned with any of their fellow members. Still, Alfin’s campaign was endorsed by Klufas and Branquinho, who evidently see Alfin as ideologically compatible.
Also of note for the Council: no more motions failing on 2-2 votes. A motion made by the Council requires a proposal by one member and seconded by another in order to proceed to a vote, and requires three votes to pass regardless of Council size. With a new Mayor now joining the dais, the era of motions failing in a tie is, for now, over.
FlaglerLive was the first to report Alfin’s victory. More will be added as the story develops.
The election results:
- David Alfin – 36.34% – 6,891
- Alan Lowe – 26.91% – 5,102
- Cornelia Manfre – 24.04% – 4,558
- Doug Courtney – 8.88% – 1,683
- Kathy Austrino – 2.85% – 540
- Carol Bacha – 0.99% – 188
UPDATE 7:36 pm: David Alfin has declared victory on social media:
“Tonight I am grateful to announce victory in the Palm Coast Mayoral Special Election. I am honored and humbled to have received your support throughout this process, and look forward to serving as the next Mayor of Palm Coast.“Campaigns are team efforts, and I could not have done any of this without the unconditional support of my wife and family and the outpouring of support from our friends, neighbors, and community. Thank you for being the heart of this campaign victory and taking this big step with me toward putting Palm Coast on the right path. Although tonight we celebrate, tomorrow I begin tackling the challenges facing our city.”
Lori & Jimmie Byrne
July 27, 2021 at 8:10 pm
Congratulations David. Best of luck as Mayor of Palm Coast.
NS
July 27, 2021 at 8:25 pm
The Barbosa comment is typical. Hopefully in the next election he and his ally Danko will be shown the door. Congrats to the formation of a functional commission majority!
Barbara
July 27, 2021 at 8:29 pm
Maybe he can bring professionalism and respect to this council, as mayor he has the right to gavel anyone that is out of order.
TR
July 27, 2021 at 8:38 pm
Well, we’re screwed and here come the higher taxes.
Julie DiFormato
July 27, 2021 at 11:17 pm
Yup
Annomous
July 28, 2021 at 8:59 am
Your absolutely right and this Flagler live turned off comments they know they cheated just look at the smirk on David’s face ! We need to go to every meeting now to fight for what is right for Palm Coast he does not have Palm Coast interest in mind but his pocket to build more our roads are packed now seniors can’t afford any more taxes we don’t have enough hood. I tots in the area and there is no serious work unless you want to work a fast food place this needs to be audit !
Annomous
July 27, 2021 at 8:47 pm
So now senior citizens can’t afford to live here now because this guy who is bought and paid will raise your taxes building will be outrageous like worse then it is now crime rate will go up follow the money people we should NOT have mail in ballots ! A audit should be done or do you want to live in a communist country or a free world
Look who posted this first media that can’t be trusted it’s pretty funny everyone I spoke to voted for Alan Lowe
TR
July 27, 2021 at 10:23 pm
Maybe the blessing will be the housing market crashes soon as predicted by some realtor I have spoken to and his plans falls flat.