Palm Coast City Council appoints David Sullivan after motion to reconsider passes 3-1

The Palm Coast City Council voted 3 to 1 to appoint David (Dave) Sullivan to the council and administered the oath of office following a contentious public comment period and an earlier 2-2 tie on a different finalist.

The appointment followed an initial 2-2 vote that failed to approve Candy Stevens for the vacancy. Council later considered a nomination of Mark Stansell, but that motion received no second. Legal counsel advised the council on its options under the charter, including motions to reconsider, and a motion to reconsider the earlier nomination of Sullivan passed 3-1. The subsequent motion to appoint Sullivan passed 3-1, and Sullivan was sworn in at the meeting.

Why this matters: the seat had prompted sharp public debate about whether the council should choose a candidate voters had recently supported or return a former officeholder. Speakers in the public-comment period urged the council to select newer candidates and criticized returning appointees; others defended Sullivan’s prior service.

Council action and vote sequence are central to the outcome. An early vote on a different finalist — identified in public comments as Candy Stevens — ended in a 2-2 tie and failed. A subsequent attempt to appoint Mark Stansell was made but received no second. After legal counsel explained that a prevailing side could move for reconsideration under council rules, a motion to reconsider the nomination of Dave Sullivan was made, seconded and passed by a 3-1 vote (Vice Mayor Panieri, Council Member Gamboa and Council Member Miller in favor; Mayor Norris opposed). The council then voted 3-1 to appoint Sullivan; the council clerk administered the oath of office.

Public comment during and before the votes was strongly divided. Multiple speakers urged the council to select what they described as “fresh” candidates chosen by voters in the recent election cycle and criticized returning appointees as “political retreads.” One resident said Palm Coast residents “do not want the same old” and urged the council to choose new representatives. Another commenter urged the council to reconsider Candy Stevens, saying voters had shown a preference for new members. Conversely, speakers who supported Sullivan noted his prior election wins and civic service and argued he would perform the duties of the office. At the podium after being sworn in, Sullivan said he would “look at the facts, and then I make a decision” and pledged to serve independently.

Procedural notes recorded on the record: legal counsel explained that if a motion to reconsider fails, the council must regroup to meet the charter’s 90-day requirement for filling the vacancy. Council members clarified that a successful motion to reconsider required an affirmative majority before the nomination could be put to a new vote.

The council completed the appointment by administering the oath and recessed for a short break after the swearing-in. The council did not adopt any additional policy related to the appointment during the remainder of the recorded proceedings.

Ending: With Sullivan sworn in, the council returns to its agenda. The record shows a split public response and a council decision reached through reconsideration and majority vote.