Jimmy Hengy, a retired entrepreneur with more than 40 years of business experience, announced his candidacy for the Palm Coast City Council District 2 seat on May 18, 2026. The seat will be on the ballot in November 2026. Hengy’s campaign centers on infrastructure investment, managed growth, economic development, and protecting the city’s natural environment.
Why He’s Running
Hengy framed his decision to run around what he sees as a critical moment for the city. “Palm Coast is at a crossroads,” he said. “We’re growing fast, and the decisions we make today will determine whether this city becomes the beautiful, well-managed community our residents deserve — or whether we lose the very qualities that brought us all here. I’m running because I believe we need experienced leadership with a clear plan, not just talk.”
His Background
Born in Michigan in 1961 and raised in South Florida, Hengy began his career straight out of high school in 1979. He founded Expertees, Inc. in 1985, a contract screen printing company that grew to serve major national retailers including Sears, JCPenney, and K-Mart, as well as corporate clients such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Office Depot, and Keds. He later acquired The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tee Shirt Company in Sebring, Florida, and went on to found IBG Enterprises and a fishing rod manufacturing division.
On the public service side, Hengy worked with the Highlands County Economic Development Committee on a business incubator program, partnered with the Community Redevelopment Agency on downtown revitalization, and served as a volunteer city advisor evaluating employee performance. He says years of attending city government meetings and working with local elected officials have given him a working understanding of how municipal government operates.
Hengy retired and relocated to Palm Coast with his fiancée in search of a quieter pace of life. He said the city’s direction has now prompted him to get involved.
His Campaign Priorities
Hengy has outlined four main areas of focus:
Infrastructure: He argues Palm Coast is already behind on critical infrastructure — particularly water — and that new residential development should not shift the cost of fixing those deficiencies onto existing residents.
A Clear City Vision: Hengy is calling for a defined mission statement that reflects what residents want Palm Coast to become. “I believe we have the potential to be a beautiful, well-kept city of the highest standard,” he said.
Economic Development: He says too many Palm Coast residents commute to St. Augustine or Daytona Beach for work. He plans to pursue a business incubator program, drawing on his experience building one in Highlands County, to help create local jobs.
Environmental Protection: Hengy has pledged to oppose overdevelopment that threatens open space and wildlife, citing the deer, turkeys, and birds he says are part of the city’s identity.
His Message to Voters
Hengy described his campaign as grassroots in nature. “I’m not a politician,” he said. “I’m a business owner who knows how to manage budgets, build teams, and get things done. Palm Coast deserves council members who will put residents first, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
More information is available at www.jimmyhengy.com or by emailing info@jimmyhengy.com.
The post Retired Business Executive Enters Palm Coast City Council Race with Infrastructure-First Platform first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
