The Flagler County Republican Executive Committee (FCREC) held a highly contentious meeting Tuesday night that laid bare the deepening rift between Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris and members of his own party. At the center of the discord: Norris’s behavior in office, accusations of conspiracy, and growing concern about the damage being done to the local Republican brand.
According to attendees, the night’s most heated moment came when FCREC Chair Perry Mitrano introduced a resolution that would have called on Mayor Norris to acknowledge that his behavior had, at times, been inappropriate and disruptive to the community—and to publicly commit to improving his leadership moving forward. The resolution stopped short of any formal condemnation but was seen as a good-faith effort to address mounting public concern.
Mayor Norris immediately refused to support the resolution and, according to several witnesses, launched into a five-minute tirade, denouncing the effort as a coordinated conspiracy by Democratic city staffers and political opponents. During his remarks, Norris suggested that former Mayor Milissa Holland—who had previously been a Democrat before switching parties to become a Republican—had allowed lingering Democratic influence to resurface within city leadership. He pointed to Jason DeLorenzo, a registered Democrat and senior city official, as an example, implying that DeLorenzo had contributed to this influence.
One attendee described the mayor’s reaction as a “rant,” while another noted that the room grew increasingly uncomfortable as Norris verbally sparred with City Councilman Dave Sullivan. Sullivan calmly explained to the committee that the mayoral evaluation—whose findings had raised alarms—was conducted by an independent, third-party professional based in Tallahassee.
Norris shot back, dismissing the professional assessment as merely an opinion, and reiterated his belief that the criticism against him was rooted in partisan sabotage. “It’s all fake,” he reportedly said, echoing rhetoric that has become a hallmark of his defense.
The meeting became a flashpoint for broader tensions within the local GOP. Some members advocated for the committee to request that Governor Ron DeSantis remove Norris from office, citing his behavior as increasingly erratic and damaging to the party’s credibility. Others, however, rallied around the mayor, clinging to the theory that internal city politics were being manipulated by left-leaning staff—even as all five Palm Coast councilmembers, including Norris, are registered Republicans.
Despite the drama, the committee ultimately failed to take any formal action. The resolution proposed by Mitrano was shelved after it became clear that Norris’s volatility—and the vocal support of a small faction of his loyalists—might deepen the divide.
One committee member, speaking anonymously, told reporters: “People are afraid to speak up. The mayor’s retaliation against people scares me.”
Political isolation appears to be growing around Norris. Councilman Dave Sullivan, long regarded as a stabilizing voice on the council, has made it known he is not supportive of the mayor’s recent conduct. Prominent local Republican Ed Fuller, known for his decades of civic engagement and steady leadership, has also declined to offer support, reportedly describing Norris’s behavior as disappointing and counterproductive.
The public, too, is beginning to weigh in more forcefully. On social media, local resident LeeAnn Chamberlain Vogel commented, “It’s really a disgrace the way he’s conducting himself.” Another user summed up the frustration felt by many: “Being a Republican doesn’t mean defending everything a Republican does. We elected him to lead, not to create chaos.”
Perhaps the most direct rebuke came from Councilman Ed Danko, who told reporters, “If you can’t get the support from your own party, it’s time to step down.”
As tensions continue to mount and public trust continues to erode, one thing is clear: Mayor Norris’s future in office may ultimately depend less on Democratic opposition than on whether his own party is willing to hold him accountable.
This article will be updated as new developments unfold.
This article is trash and very slanted! I was at the REC meeting, sitting right behind Mayor Norris, and your description is totally inaccurate! The resolution did not pass because a large majority of attendees voted it down! They support Mayor Norris!!