- April 17, 2024
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Should City Council candidates be asked to sign a document, committing to always tell the truth in their campaigns? Councilman Ed Danko says no.
“Who decides what’s an untruth?” he asked at the May 10 City Council workshop. “We get Joe Biden's Ministry of Untruths to come in and make a decision for us?"
After a discussion to address Danko’s concerns, Mayor David Alfin proposed an alternative: Rather than inviting candidates to sign a document, which would not be enforced by law anyway, the City Council could give candidates a statement of city-endorsed ethical principles as a way of encouraging them to tell the truth, stay positive and be civil in their campaigns. That document will be presented to the council for a vote on May 17. The principle difference is that the document would not have a place for the candidate to sign his or her name.
The document that was initially proposed is already in use at the county level. Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart wrote the Statement of Ethical Campaign Practices, in 2018, and distributed it to county candidates — but not city candidates — prior to the 2020 election.
Among the 12 statements are these:
The statement also includes a commitment to follow state laws, such as following financial reporting laws and not campaigning within 150 feet of a polling place.
Alfin began the discussion by saying he was in support of the concept and that he hoped this commitment to ethical behavior would “float up to the state and federal level.” However, he paused at the phrase “nor will I permit.”
“‘Will not permit’ seems to put an awfully heavy burden on a candidate."
DAVID ALFIN, Palm Coast mayor
“‘Will not permit’ seems to put an awfully heavy burden on a candidate,” he said. Would the candidate then feel responsible for the actions and words of all his or her supporters?
Councilmen Nick Klufas, Eddie Branquinho and John Fanelli supported the idea of giving all city candidates a copy of the Statement of Ethical Campaign Practices for them to sign, with possible wording adjustments.
When asked how the public would be aware whether a candidate signed the Statement of Ethical Campaign Practices, Lenhart said it would be public record, so anyone could ask and find out.
“I’m actually opposed to this,” Danko said. “The reason why is not the ethics or what it represents, but, to me, this is the first step of overreaching from government into political campaigns. I mean, what comes next? We then make it enforceable?"
If a candidate had good reasons, such as Alfin’s concern about the phrase “nor will I permit,” and declined to sign it, Danko said, an unsigned statement could be used unfairly as a weapon against the candidate.
“I just don’t think we need to do it,” he said, adding that the statements about following the laws were redundant; the candidates already had to follow the law without having to sign another piece of paper.
Danko and Klufas agreed that it could become a “slippery slope,” with candidates some day being required to sign the document, even though it now just a suggestion.
Still, after hearing his fellow council members continue to support the Statement of Ethical Campaign Practices, Danko heightened his tone.
“I suggest we crumple it up and toss it in the garbage can,” he said, calling it "dangerous."
Branquinho and Klufas said their campaign opponents in the past had been civil. Danko praised those campaigns and said a “gentleman’s agreement” should suffice, without creating a new statement.
That’s when Alfin spoke up and proposed his compromise, and the City Council members nodded approval. Lenhart was asked to work with City Clerk Virginia Smith to craft a document of ethical principles for city candidates to consider, without being asked to sign their names.
In other city news...
City staff is recommending Taylor Engineering as the consulting firm to assess the needs and timeline for dredging of the city’s saltwater canals. The initial assessment will take six to seven months, at a cost of $150,000 to $200,000, though that cost is still under negotiations. Next will be design and permitting, which could take 18-24 months.
The consultants will determine permitting requirements for maintenance dredging as well as additional dredging. They will also conduct a bathymetric survey of existing canals, conduct a cursory evaluation of seawalls, and collect sample materials.
Palm Coast resident Bob MacDonald spoke to the City Council at the May 10 workshop, encouraging them to participate in the Tunnel to Towers 5K, an event scheduled for 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at Central Park in Town Center. This event supports Tunnel to Towers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services to our nation’s fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military heroes and their families. Mayor David Alfin is planning to walk with MacDonald, and after hearing the plea, City Councilmen Nick Klufas and John Fanelli said they would also join the event.
As with previous years, the upcoming city election for City Council District 2 and 4 seats will be administered by Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart, assuming the City Council approves the interlocal agreement with the SOE at the May 17 meeting.
Early voting for the Aug. 23 Primary will be Aug. 13-20, at the SOE office, the Flagler County Public Library’s Palm Coast branch, the Palm Coast Community Center, and a newly approved fourth location, in Flagler Beach. Early voting for the Nov. 8 General Election will be Oct. 24-Nov. 5. The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot is Aug. 13 (call 386-313-4170 or visit flaglerelections.com).
Eight Palm Coast residents have applied to be appointed to the five-member Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee: Robert Branin, Charles Doak, Sabrina Rinaldi, Kevin Saint, Jeffrey Seib, Ronald Silvers, Mary Vasilevsky and Joseph Wright Jr.
Seib, the current chairman, has been a member of the committee for two four-year terms already, so he would need a four-fifths vote of the City Council to be reappointed. Other previous members, whose term expired May 1, were Robert Knapp, Edward Beier, Glenn Partelow and Robbyn Mackler.
The BEAC may make recommendations to the Planning and Land Development Regulation Board with regard to Comprehensive Plan amendments and land development regulations involving its areas of review.
Recently completed projects, as influenced by the BEAC, include naming the Shirley Chisholm Trail and Doug Berryhill Field, achieving the Monarch Butterfly designation, adding art in public places and proposing revisions to the Green Building Incentive Program.
Mayor David Alfin said this “little-heralded committee” contributes greatly to the quality of life in Palm Coast.
Each member of the City Council will appoint one member, at the May 17 business meeting. City Councilman Eddie Branquinho, who will not be in attendance May 17, declared his selection early: Branin. He said he was impressed with Branin’s honesty.
The first meeting of the newly formed BEAC will be May 26.
