- December 16, 2025
In eight years on the City Council, Mary DiStefano was an advocate for community transportation issues.
Hardworking; dedicated; the epitome of an elected official.
That’s how Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts described City Council member Mary DiStefano.
Next week, DiStefano’s eight-year stint on the Palm Coast City Council will come to an end. She has served her two terms, and her seat will be filled by Jason DeLorenzo or Dennis Cross.
DiStefano served for eight of the city’s 12 years in existence. In her eyes, the city has grown up since it incorporated in 1999.
Her presence on the City Council will be missed, Netts said.
“It’s been a pleasure working with her,” Netts said Tuesday, just hours before his last meeting with DiStefano. “Probably the one issue that she has continued to champion for almost her entire eight years is trying to improve transportation for our older citizens and handicapped citizens. I’m not sure anyone else has had that passion for an issue, and that will be missed.”
DiStefano said one thing she learned over the eight years is that you have to listen to the people.
“You really have to expose yourself, she said. “You may not always agree with them, but you have to listen to their side.”
THREE QUESTIONS FOR MARY DISTEFANO
How has Palm Coast changed in the past eight years?
I think we have grown up … What we’ve done in eight years is increase the transportation and upgraded the roads and landscaping while keeping budget and taxes low … And we’ve also increased parks and sidewalks and paths.
What was your biggest accomplishment while serving on the City Council?
I had two issues that I always (worked hard for). My dream is to have something like a senior center for the city of Palm Coast … Every time I brought up that I wanted something like that for the city, I was shot down and was told we don’t want that (but) I would really love to see a senior center.
That was one of my goals that I never accomplished.
Also, to make better transportation for the seniors. And we were able to accomplish some of that with the intergovernmental meetings that we had with the county. And just recently they have announced that they have increased two hours a day and added Saturday for transportation. That makes me happy.
What advice do you have for the incoming City Council members?
Do your homework. Read all the material you’re given and make your own independent (decisions), but be willing to compromise.
Be true to yourself. Everybody is going to try to pick on you. No matter what you do on City Council, there’s somebody not happy.
