Interim Palm Coast City Council Seat Draws Eight Applicants

PALM COAST – The Palm Coast city government has released the eight applicants to serve the interim term in the City Council’s second district seat. The seat opened up with the sudden resignation of Victor Barbosa, and the appointment process is outlined in the City Charter. The eight individuals are as follows: Antonio Amaral Jr. Bob Coffman John Fanelli Hung Hilton Carl Jones Perry Mitrano Larry Gross William Schreiber The candidates will be interviewed and appointed by the City Council at a meeting this coming Tuesday, March 22nd. The candidates were asked to only apply if they did not intend to run for a full term in the November election. That race currently only has two candidates: Alan Lowe, and Sims Jones, both staples of City Council meetings who’ve ran for a Council or Mayor seat multiple times before. The eight candidates, listed in alphabetical order with a few resume highlights, are as follows: Antonio Amaral Jr. submitted a one-page application to the Council, most of it comprising of his letter of interest. His resume mentions: Graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona State College Lifetime board member of Flagler Homebuilders Association Real estate broker Bob Coffman has vied for a seat in the local legislature before; he ran for this same City Council seat in 2020, finishing second to Victor Barbosa and ahead of now-Mayor David Alfin and Dennis McDonald. Coffman’s resume mentions: Graduate of the University of Denver 21-year U.S. Air Force veteran Aviation consultant, former American Airlines pilot John Fanelli is a career educator with experience in both Flagler and Volusia schools. He has served as Principal at Buddy Taylor Middle School and Wadsworth Elementary School, as well as a teacher at Old Kings Elementary School. His resume mentions: Graduate of Stetson University, University of Central Florida, Daytona Beach Community College A reference from Jacob Oliva, and current Chancellor at Florida Department of Education and former Flagler Superintendent 21-year educator Hung Hilton is likely best-known to the politically active as a member of the Palm Coast Planning and Land Development Regulation Board, which also meets periodically in the City Hall chambers. His resume mentions: Graduate of Western Governors University (B.S., Information Technology Management) Former solutions architect, Gerber Life Insurance Senior Principal Architect, Majesco Carl Jones has also run for office, having gone against Janet McDonald in the 2018 School Board election. He remains active in the community with SURJ, otherwise known as Showing Up for Racial Justice. His resume mentions: Graduate of Community College of the Air Force (Associates), American Military University (Bachelors), and University of Phoenix (Masters) A director of the Purple Heart Foundation 26-year U.S. Air Force veteran Larry Gross is one of the lesser-known applicants, but posts a robust resume. It makes mention of: Graduated from Maryland University (Associates) Overcame a drug addiction in the 90’s Received a reference from Tim Curtis, founder/CEO of Houligan’s Perry Mitrano was the first applicant to the process, and is known for his run for the East Flagler Mosquito Control Board in 2020. Before that, Mitrano was the Director of Solid Waste at the City Bunnell, a post he held until retirement in 2019. His resume boasts: 45-year business owner Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Palm Coast Redistricting Board Appointment Licensed auctioneer William Schreiber is also a relative newcomer to the public political realm, but also posts a detailed resume with a myriad of accomplishments. They include: Graduated from the University of Tampa (Bachelors) and Brevard Junior College (Associate) 23 years of industrial experience Former physics, calculus, and physical science teacher