Amaral, Shelley Win Palm Coast City Council Races

Tony Amaral Jr. and Darlene Shelley won election to the Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday. Each candidate was vying for an open seat, with neither incumbent choosing to seek re-election. In District 2, Theresa Pontieri opted to successfully campaign for Flagler County Commission, while in District 4 Charles Gambaro mounted an unsuccessful bid for Congress. Three City Council seats will change hands when the new members are sworn in this month. Along with Amaral and Shelley, Ray Stevens gained back a seat he resigned due to health issues after no other candidate filed to run against him. Tony Amaral Jr. Wins District 2 Tony Amaral Jr. won the Palm Coast City Council District 2 election on Tuesday, defeating Jeani Duarte. When he’s sworn in later this year, Amaral will take the place of Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri, who chose to run for County Commission instead of seeking re-election. Amaral and Duarte advanced to the general election as the top two candidates in the August primary election. A nonpartisan race, Palm Coast citizens had three choices on their initial District 2 ballot. Jimmy Hengy was the odd man out, falling short by just over one thousand votes. “We ran a great race,” Amaral said Tuesday. “We kept it clean, and that’s what we should do as residents and neighbors. Now we just have to get together on the Council and move forward, and decide how we’re going to shape Palm Coast. The next four years and two years are going to be very, I think, pivotal on which way we go so I just hope everyone shows up and does the work that we’re asked to do.” Having shown interest in a Council seat for multiple years, Amaral placed first in both the primary and general elections. He scored exactly 45.00% in August, falling five percentage points short of winning the election outright. Duarte placed second in August with 30.17%. Tony Amaral Jr’s winning campaign highlighted economic vitality and quality of life. His communication centered around ‘high-quality’ job creation, infrastructure, and economic responsibility. Duarte emphasized water quality, responsible growth, fiscal accountability, and government transparency. She also rallied for a strengthening of the city charter, which she repeatedly alleged the current and former Council of violating in relation to the appointment of Councilman Charles Gambaro. “I fought the good fight and I’m continuing to fight the good fight. This isn’t over, this is just somebody else having to take the heat up there,” Duarte said with a laugh. “I get to come and go and enjoy my life and not get stuck to the meetings. But I am definitely right there alongside the citizens and I’m fighting the good fight continually. This is my home, this is what we invest in. Just because I’m not sitting up there doesn’t mean I’m a different person and doesn’t mean I changed my mind about anything I stand for. I bring out the facts and I stand with the facts.” Palm Coast City Council, District 2 Antonio ‘Tony’ Amaral Jr. – 60.31% – 24,406 – WINNER Jeani Duarte – 39.69% – 16,059 Darlene Shelley Wins District 4 Darlene Shelley won the Palm Coast City Council District 4 election on Tuesday, besting opponent Dylana ‘Dee’ Galery. Later this year, Shelley will inherit the District 4 seat from Charles Gambaro, who ran for Congress instead of seeking another term in office. “I am truly honored and grateful for the trust you have placed in me,” Shelley said. :This campaign was built by neighbors who want responsible growth, stronger infrastructure, real budget transparency, a healthier environment, and leadership that puts residents and our quality of life first. Thank you to every volunteer, supporter, and voter who stood with us. The work to protect our neighborhoods, preserve what makes Palm Coast special, and put residents first starts now. I look forward to serving you.” Shelley and Galery advanced to the general election in their race out of a primary field that included four candidates. Shelley secured the most votes in the August 18 primary with 32.06%, with Galery trailing at 26.94%. Failing to advance were John Kvederis (23.45%) and Ramon Marrero (17.55%). In order to avoid a runoff, one of the four primary candidates would’ve needed to eclipse 50.0% of the vote on August 18. In a four-way race, winning an outright majority is uncommon if not unheard-of for City Council races. Shelley and Galery commanding around a third and a quarter of the vote respectively was as strong of a showing as either candidate would’ve realistically hoped for. Darlene Shelley’s campaign spotlighted land conservation, public safety, health and welfare, fiscal responsibility, and transparency. She received endorsements from Mayor Mike Norris, as well as former-and-future City Councilman Ray Stevens. Though Palm Coast City Council races are nonpartisan, Dee Galery received widespread support from Flagler County Democrats. She was included in mailers alongside statewide candidates such as David Jolly and Angie Nixon. Despite her heavy Democratic support, Galery openly billed herself as a fiscal conservative during the general election campaign cycle. Such messaging may be essential in Flagler County, which has historically voted red by wide margins. Galery’s campaign emphasized infrastructure, bringing high-paying jobs, transparency, and accountability in budgeting. “While this election did not end with the result we hoped for, my heart is full of gratitude for everyone who believed in me and this campaign,” Galery said. “To every voter, volunteer, donor, friend, and family member who stood beside me–thank you. Whether you knocked doors, made calls, displayed a sign, shared a post, or offered encouragement when I needed it most, you helped carry this campaign forward. We have so much to be proud of. We showed up, listened, and put our hearts into a vision for Palm Coast. The conversations at your doors, the stories you shared, and the trust you placed in me will stay with me long after this election.” Palm Coast City Council, District 4 Dylana ‘Dee’ Galery – 48.63% – 19,133 Darlene Shelley – 51.37% – 20,214 – WINNER