Tuesday in Palm Coast marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. The morning’s business meeting of the City Council was the last (partial) meeting for Mayor David Alfin and Council members Ed Danko and Nick Klufas’ terms in office. It also marked the swearing-in of their successors: Mayor Mike Norris, Councilman Ty Miller, and Councilman Ray Stevens.
After a final encouraging word from Alfin, the three men were sworn in, joining sitting Council members Charles Gambaro and Therese Cali Pontieri on the dais. Alfin and Danko departed from the room quickly and quietly, with Klufas having skipped attendance altogether. Norris took up his mayoral gavel, one he said was passed down through his wife’s family.
An Ever-Changing City Council
All but Klufas could’ve had another term in office. Alfin did attempt to seek a second term as mayor, but was defeated in the five-person primary election back in August. Danko opted to run for County Commission instead, a race he also lost. Klufas was term-limited, and ran for County Commission more by necessity. He too was defeated.
The City Council now has an entirely different makeup than it did four years ago, at the conclusion of the 2020 elections. Despite only two of the five members at that time having faced 2024 as a hard end to their tenures due to term limits, not a single one remains. Then-Mayor Milissa Holland resigned just months into her second term. Danko declined to run again. Then-Councilman Victor Barbosa resigned in March 2022 and didn’t run again. Eddie Branquinho’s term was up in 2022 and he too chose not to run for re-election. Also passing through in that time were John Fanelli, Barbosa’s interim replacement, and Cathy Heighter, Branquinho’s successor who resigned earlier this year
Theresa Carli Pontieri Appointed Vice Mayor
The first order of business for the new City Council was the appointment of a new vice mayor. Their last one, Ed Danko, having just left office one week following a censure by his colleagues, the choice was relatively obvious if only by default. Only Theresa Carli Ponteri has served more than a couple months on the dais, having been elected in 2022. Charles Gambaro has been in his seat since earlier this fall, but it’s typically unusual for a freshman Council member to receive the vice mayorship.
Councilman Stevens motioned for Pontieri’s selection, with the woman of the hour seconding. The roll call vote was 3-2, with Ty Miller and Charles Gambaro opposing her. Neither one had motioned for themselves or each other to get the job. Norris, Pontieri, and Stevens formed the majority.
The handful of public commenters all praised Pontieri but one, with most applauding her community advocacy since assuming office. The one exception held the controversial and recently-failed city borrowing referendum against her. Mayor Norris said he’d have seconded the motion if Pontieri herself hadn’t, perhaps not realizing that while holding the gavel he was not permitted to make or second motions.
Pontieri is the first woman to serve as vice mayor since Heidi Shipley in 2016. She follows three straight two-year stints from Nick Klufas, Eddie Branquinho, and Ed Danko respectively. Branquinho was perhaps the most consequential vice mayor in Palm Coast’s history, having chaired meetings for multiple months in 2021 after Milissa Holland’s resignation as mayor. Klufas was relatively low-key in the role, and Danko was mostly by-the-numbers until his colleagues expressed regret for having ever given him the job last week.
Palm Coast Vice Mayors of History
The list of vice mayors in Palm Coast history is now the following:
- 2000 – James Holland
- 2001 – Ralph Carter
- 2002 – William Venne
- 2003 – Jon Netts
- 2004 – Ralph Carter
- 2005 – Mary DiStefano
- 2006 – William Venne
- 2007 – Jon Netts
- 2008 – Alan Peterson
- 2009 – Mary DiStefano
- 2010 – Holsey Moorman
- 2011 – Frank Meeker
- 2012 – Bill Lewis
- 2013 – Bill McGuire
- 2014 – Jason DeLorenzo
- 2015 – Bill McGuire
- 2016 – Heidi Shipley
- 2017 – Steve Nobile
- 2018 – Robert G. Cuff
- 2019 – Nicholas Klufas
- 2020 – Nicholas Klufas
- 2021 – Eddie Branquinho
- 2022 – Eddie Branquinho
- 2023 – Ed Danko
- 2024 – Ed Danko
- 2025 – Theresa Carli Pontieri
Congratulations Theresa! More than well deserved.
It’s about time!!