Ray Stevens on Tuesday was elected as the next member of the Palm Coast City Council representing District 3. He beat Andrew Werner for the seat, with Stevens taking 58.02% versus Werner’s 41.98%. In raw numbers, Stevens took home 26,503 votes, against Werner’s 19,178.
The race was mostly civil and issues-oriented, save for a jab by Stevens at Werner’s ‘dark money’ contributions as he put it at a candidate forum in September. He accused Werner of being beholden to donors from large political committees, as well as the development industry. He played to residents’ concerns about over-development to paint Werner as a continuation of such policies. Werner denied any shady nature behind his political donors, arguing that he wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of entering the race if it was to do other people’s bidding.
Stevens at last found victory in his third attempt at elected office in Flagler County. He threw his hat in the race for Flagler County Sheriff in the 2008 and 2012, coming up short to Donald Fleming the first time and Jim Manfre the second. He’s lived in Palm Coast for 20 years, working before that as an administrative lieutenant in the New York Police Department.
Andrew Werner came up short in his first campaign for public office. ⓒ Eryn Harris
“I want to thank all the people that supported me and voted for me and helped me in this endeavor,” Stevens said. “It was a long, arduous task, and now I’m anxious to get the work for the people of the city of Palm Coast. Mr. Werner fought a valiant battle.”
Prior to running for City Council, Werner has worked as a professional school psychologist. In interviews leading up to the election, Werner cited his experience working on educational leadership teams and homeowners’ association boards and key contributors to his readiness for a City Council seat. “It was a great run and thank you Palm Coast,” Werner said in a Facebook post. “Congratulations to Ray Stevens, Ty Miller, and Mike Norris.”
Stevens will take the seat from the outgoing Councilman Nick Klufas, who served two four-year terms before being barred from another run by the city’s term limit policy. Klufas attempted to parlay his time in Palm Coast to a County Commission, but wound up losing to Kim Carney in the Republican primary.
The two candidates advanced out of a three-way race in August, in which Dana ‘Mark’ Stancel failed to advance. Stevens won that race by a mere two votes. Werner cleared his opponents relatively comfortably. A runoff election is forced when no one in a three-way race receives more than 50.0% of the vote.
Palm Coast City Council, District 3:
- Ray Stevens – 58.02% – 26,503 – WINNER
- Andrew Werner – 41.98% – 19,178
