Palm Coast City Council

Theresa Carli Pontieri and Alan Lowe got the most votes in a four-way primary contest for District 2 on the Palm Coast City Council. Since neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the top two advance to a November runoff.

Palm Coast voters will also vote in the District 4 City Council race, where Cathy D Heighter faces Fernando Melendez.

News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.

Theresa Carli Pontieri

Party affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Senior Litigation Attorney

Age: 37

Your family: Married to a Firefighter

Education: Undergraduate in Legal Studies from UCF and Juris Doctorate from Coastal Law

Political experience: First time running for office

What do you see as the top three issues you’ll likely face while holding this office?

• Remaining fiscally conservative and working within our budgetary constraints as we face inflation and a possible recession.
• Ensuring we have proper infrastructure in place and sufficient public services to absorb the growth our City and State are experiencing.
• Continuing to work towards the goals in our Comprehensive Plan and Strategic Action Plan to ensure our canals get dredged and our swales get addressed.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

• My diverse background provides the type of perspective that doesn’t currently exist on City Council. Additionally, my legal experience entails me reading, interpreting, and working to amend contracts, city ordinances, and Florida Statutes every single day. This is exactly the type of knowledge and experience needed as our City goes through immense change and growth, requiring us to address current contracts, codes, and ordinances to ensure they are best serving our citizens’ needs. I’m also a business owner and therefore know what it’s like to start and own a business, manage employees, spend thoughtfully, and work with the cities in which my businesses have operated.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

• I want to be remembered as a representative that actually represented the needs of our citizens, stood strong for my conservative principles, was transparent in my decision-making, and governed with integrity, deliberate forethought, and with the best intentions for our city.

Campaign website: theresaforpalmcoast.com

Campaign’s social media site(s): facebook.com/theresaforpalmcoast

Alan Lowe

Occupation: Entrepreneur, Landlord, Handyman

Age: 61

Your family: I am married. I have 2 sons

Education: (No response)

Political experience: I have previously run for the office of Palm Coast Mayor. My father was Mayor of a city in Massachusetts. I have attended the majority of council meetings and have commented on numerous issues during public participation at city hall. Some candidates have never approached the podium. I have attended the Palm Coast citizen academy and the Florida Institute for Political Leadership virtual classes. For a couple of years I have held my own public meetings to discuss issues, have met with council members and talked with city staff to gain an insight from all sides. I am the best prepared to make an easy transition. As a concerned Citizen, I presented a case for saltwater canal maintenance that is now on the city’s strategic plan. No other candidate can claim this level of involvement.

What do you see as the top three issues you’ll likely face while holding this office?

1. One issue is to ensure we have properly managed smart development. I believe we need to adhere more consistently with our master development plan and listen more closely to the concerns of residents.
2. Our swale system has drainage issues. We need additional crews and/or equipment to aid in faster response times.
3. Although the city tries, I believe communication of issues, ideas and events is not reaching the majority of residents. Having a city cable channel may be one improvement.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

• As a 39 year working resident of Palm Coast, 35 years owning local businesses and with 33 of those years in my district, I have a unique perspective of the past present and a history guide to the future for our city. I have also attended the majority of city council meetings for the past couple years. As a concerned citizen I have spoken with thousands of residents and on numerous occasions have brought their voice to the podium in city hall. As such, I am the only candidate that continuously participates, even when not a candidate. This combination of local involvement has prepared me with an understanding of resident needs and the workings of council so that I am the best qualified to make an easy transition.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

• I don’t care about being remembered. I would be happy, humbled and great full for the chance to serve the people and if my time on council leads to a higher quality of life for the residents then I will have done my job well.

Campaign website: Vote4lowe.com

Campaign’s social media site(s): facebook.com/AlanLowePC

Cathy D. Heighter

This candidate has not responded to requests to complete our candidate survey.

Campaign website: votecathyheighter.com

Fernando Melendez

Occupation: Property Management

Age: 59

Your family: Married 28 years, with three children and five grandchildren

Education: Bachelor’s in human services and Psychology and a Masters degree in Political Sciencers

Political experience: I have served on the Palm Coast 2021, I’m the current vice chair on the Flager County Planning and Developmen Community Director at St, Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish of Palm Coast.

What do you see as the top three issues you’ll likely face while holding this office?

Great question! After being the only candidate in the Palm Coast city council races to qualify by signed petition, by knocking on over four hundred and fifty doors to qualify, the three main concerns for our residents here in Palm Coast we’re

1. Jobs
2. Housing
3. Growth & Development

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

• I’ve been serving my community since moving to Palm Coast almost five years now, I’ve served on the Palm Coast 2021 Redistricting Board, I’m currently the Community Director at SEAS (St. Elizabth Ann Seton Parish) and also currently serve on the Flagler County Planning and Development Advisory Board as its Vice Chair. I believe a combination of experience, skills. and resources makes me the more qualified to help our voters moving forward.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

• If we’re honest with ourselves’, we know we’re far from being perfect. But as long as I serve, all I want people to know is that I just want the city to be careful moving forward in what we invest in. I want them to remember me as making informed decisions and voting responsibly.

Campaign website: voteforfernando.com

Campaign’s social media site(s): Facebook, Fernando Meléndez