- November 21, 2024
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Dear Editor:
As a lifelong Democrat, the possibility of ever casting a vote for a Republican candidate was unlikely. But with the realization of how the hapless Democratic Party has been outnumbered and politically outgunned for years here in Flagler County and that the odds of a Democratic victory were low, I voted for a Republican, David Alfin, in the recent mayoral election. And I know of many other usually loyal Democrats who also did.
Sometimes, unfortunately, you have to play defense to avoid a potentially disastrous result that we feared was becoming perilously close to happening. And that worry was Alan Lowe, who by some accounts was a frontrunner, and was viewed as a radical and controversial candidate who as mayor would likely tilt the City Council towards unacceptable extremist partisanship and continued divisiveness.
We were alerted to this worrisome eventuality by Councilman Ed Danko, who was spearheading the Lowe campaign, and who very publicly implied that that was indeed the plan. Danko wanted to stack the City Council deck, and Lowe was his guy to get that accomplished.
Fortunately, the Danko plot was thwarted, and even though some Democrats may have broken the rule of always vote your conscience, at least a very problematic candidate was defeated, and presumably, a more moderate Alfin is now mayor. And as some consolation for the Democrats having to set true preferences aside, we can maybe look, although very cautiously, forward to at least the possibility of a somewhat more measured, professional, and adult City Council.
Denise Diamond
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
Alan Lowe lost the mayoral election mostly on his own accord, with such contributing factors as his sovereign citizen past, using the old and stale playbook of attacking the media, and generally lacking mayoral qualifications and suitability. However, Councilman Ed Danko, as Lowe’s campaign adviser, with his ultra-partisan approach to governing was a drag on Lowe’s campaign from its onset.
Early on, Danko made it clear he had a plan to form a right-wing cabal of his own like-minded council members and take control of City Hall. Broadcasting an intended partisan power grab was likely a turn-off to many voters.
And during Lowe’s campaign, Danko fixated on ex-mayor Holland and her critically ill daughter, treading into traditionally forbidden political territory with malicious falsehoods about the daughter’s medical condition. He further peddled an incredulous tale of a secret law enforcement source slipping him information of criminal activity by the ex-mayor. Danko even got caught on a video attempting to garner Lowe votes canvassing door to door expounding a variety of inflammatory falsehoods, not only about the ex-mayor and her child but also that our governor forced Holland to resign by threatening criminal charges, a totally bogus claim that the governor adamantly denied and was none too happy about.
Danko’s dirty politics firmly established Danko’s lack of credibility as a councilman.
It’s pretty clear now that Lowe and Danko have hitched their respective political carts to the wrong horse. That’s one postmortem theory of the Lowe campaign and may be an ominous sign of Danko’s future in politics.
Robert Gordon
Palm Coast
