The Palm Coast City Council has appointed Charles A. Gambaro Jr. to fill the District 4 seat following the resignation of Council Member Cathy Heighter on August 23, 2024. Gambaro will serve in this role from the date of his appointment through November 2026.
The City Council had invited residents of District 4 to apply for the vacant seat. Applicants were required to reside in the district and maintain residency throughout their term. Nine candidates participated in a public interview session held on September 17, 2024, during a City Council meeting.
On October 1, 2024, during the City Council Business Meeting, the Council made its final decision just before 8:00 p.m., appointing Gambaro, a Palm Coast resident since 2006, to the District 4 seat.
Gambaro’s qualifications include an impressive record of public service. According to his application, he is a U.S. Army Brigadier General, a former Flagler County elected/appointed official, and holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Master of Public Administration, a Master of Strategic Studies, and is currently a Doctor of Public Administration candidate.
Immediately following the appointment, Gambaro was sworn in and took his seat at the dais, participating in the remainder of the business meeting. “Over the past two months, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to the concerns of our citizens, community leaders, business leaders, and others, and it is absolutely clear to me that the hiring of a new city manager is a priority for our citizens and our municipality. I intend to be very involved in this selection process and select a strong leader to follow the intent and guidance of this council, drive staff to execute as directed but also mentor staff and help lead our City for many years to come,” Gambaro said after assuming his new role.
City Council meetings are held at City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue, and are open to the public. Meetings are also streamed live on the City of Palm Coast YouTube channel and can be viewed at: youtube.com/CityofPalmCoastTV.