Update on Story:
Just released by the Mayor of Palm Coast, it appears that the defendants in the Mayor’s lawsuit will have just over a month and a half to prepare for a hearing on the motion filed. With a court date set for July 3rd, 2025, the emergency motion filed by the Mayor will be heard in a 60-minute hearing by the court.
The defendants in the case, The City of Palm Coast, Councilman Gambaro, and the Supervisor of Elections will have until the end of May 2025 to turn in their answer to the motion filed by the Mayor. The story will continue to be updated as it unfolds.
Original Release:
By-Line: Chase Russell, Political Consultant/CEO, Grey Eagle, LLC
Palm Coast, FL — Mayor Michael Norris has filed an Emergency Verified Complaint in the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit against the City of Palm Coast, the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections, and Councilmember Charles Gambaro, demanding immediate legal action to uphold the Palm Coast City Charter and protect residents’ right to vote.
The lawsuit stems from the City Council’s failure to hold a legally required election for Council Seat District 4 following the resignation of Councilmember Cathy Heighter in August 2024. Although the City Council appointed Charles Gambaro to the vacant seat on October 1, 2024, the City Charter mandates that such appointments only last until the next “regularly scheduled election”—which occurred on November 5, 2024.
Despite this clear requirement, the City failed to place Council Seat 4 on the November ballot and has continued to allow Gambaro to occupy the seat beyond the term authorized by the Charter.
“This suit is to right an existing wrong, which has resulted in a city council not acting in accordance with the will of the people. It is absolutely unacceptable that two of five seats on the council are occupied by individuals not duly elected by the citizens of Palm Coast.”
Mayor Norris is seeking:
- A court declaration that Seat 4 is currently vacant;
- An order compelling the City and Supervisor of Elections to hold a special election;
- An injunction to prevent further unauthorized occupancy of the seat;
- A writ of quo warranto to remove Mr. Gambaro from office.
The case has been filed with a request for expedited consideration due to the urgency and constitutional implications surrounding the denial of an election. For further information or questions, please contact attorney Anthony F. Sabatini.
Contact:
Anthony F. Sabatini
Esq. Sabatini Law Firm, P.A.
(352) 455-2928
anthony@sabatinilegal.com
Yes this violation requires immediate correction and as such the vote From Gambaro is taken away from further voting.
I absolutely agree with the Mayor. Gambaro is trying to push the mayor out of the way because he opposes building and Gambaro represents the filth that is the entire building underbelly of PC and Flagler. He is owned by builders.
Furthermore, Gambaro, allegedly a overweight reservist (the overweight is obviously not alleged), needs to follow law… he has a pattern of skirting it to attack the Mayor. Get out Chuck!
In these situations, it’s immediately recognizable between who is principled, and who is not.
We should appreciate our Mayor’s efforts on behalf of the City.
No one is ABOVE THE RULE OF LAW.
I think that the people’s mandate is clear that a moratorium on over building should be established so that Palm Coast can develop in a balanced manner.
Take out this corrupt member of his seat his past in orlando reveals wrongdoing let’s get a special election
I knew the minute that put him in place in that cool takeover of the city council before the elections that he was a plant, can’t make up my mind if it’s the builders developers, grand owners, or if they just want a general nuisance out of Washington DC. This needs to be taken care of ASAP
JOE CITICEN