Flagler County Commissioner Leanna Pennington, who represents the western part of the county, is running for reelection. In a recent interview, she discussed her background and her views on economic development, the county budget, beach renourishment, and other issues facing Flagler County.
Background and Why She’s Running
Pennington said she has lived in Flagler County for more than 30 years and has worked in banking for over three decades, including at Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, and Chase, and currently works in fraud strategy for a Canadian firm. She said she is running for reelection to continue addressing long-standing needs in District 4, including road paving and drainage issues.
Economic Development
Pennington said Flagler County’s biggest ongoing issue is its heavy reliance on residential development rather than commercial or industrial growth. She said the county lacks “pad-ready” commercial land and utility infrastructure, particularly in the southern part of the county, which remains largely on septic systems. She said this dates back to the county’s early development under ITT, when land along the I-95 corridor and U.S. 1, which she said would typically be used for commercial development in other counties, was instead designated for housing.
She said the county has passed tax incentives to attract new businesses but continues to face challenges related to limited commercial space and workforce demographics. She pointed to the U.S. 1 corridor between Favoretta and the Ormond Beach line as an opportunity for future commercial development, but said bringing utility service to that area would cost more than $60 million. She said the county does not want to operate its own utility system and has instead been working with the Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) for two years to secure state funding for utility expansion in that corridor.
Property Tax Reform Measure
Asked about the statewide homestead exemption measure on the November ballot, Pennington said she does not view her role as telling residents how to vote, but noted the measure lacks some protections Governor DeSantis had sought, including a state trust fund to help fiscally constrained counties absorb lost revenue. She said the measure could cost Flagler County about $68 million in revenue, and said recent studies suggest Palm Coast could be the hardest-hit municipality in the state.
Pennington said she supports the underlying goal of limiting government growth to core services, but said many governments are already looking for ways to offset lost revenue through other fees, which she said was not the intent of the measure. She said passage of the amendment could force local governments to consolidate services and reduce duplication, which she said is not necessarily a bad exercise, though she said it would be difficult, particularly for smaller municipalities like Bunnell.
Beach Renourishment
On the county’s ongoing beach management and renourishment efforts, which have been divided into four “reaches,” Pennington said the county is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state to fund ongoing projects, particularly in Flagler Beach and the second reach south of it. She said one project in Reach 2 faces challenges due to missing easements from property owners and construction bids that came in around $40 million for about five miles of beach. She said no permittable project currently exists for Reaches 3 and 4, which cover the Hammock and Marineland areas.
Pennington said the county lacks the tourism-driven “bed tax” revenue that other coastal communities use to fund beach projects, and said the county has set up a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) for barrier island properties but left the assessment at zero for now, relying instead on existing tourism, sales tax, and general fund dollars. She said the county continues to seek additional state funding for beach projects, noting the state has funded close to $30 million of a $35 million project in Reach 2.
County Administrator Search
Pennington said she does not want the county’s ongoing search for a permanent administrator to be rushed or finalized before the November election, saying she would prefer to let newly elected commissioners have input in the decision. She said the county’s interim administrator has kept operations running adequately in the meantime. She said the county is looking for a candidate experienced with the pressures of rapid growth and familiar with both coastal and agricultural community needs.
Intergovernmental Relations
Asked how well the county and city governments in Flagler County currently work together, Pennington said relationships are generally collegial despite differing political views among elected officials. She said she believes passage of the property tax measure could force difficult conversations among municipalities about consolidating services, such as communications, human resources, or parks and recreation, particularly for smaller cities like Bunnell that depend heavily on county-funded services such as the Sheriff’s Office and EMS.
Public Trust
Addressing public concerns about trust in the Board of County Commissioners, Pennington said the board includes several newer members still adjusting to their roles, which she said can create an appearance of disorganization. She said state laws limiting local governments’ land use authority, including recent legislation she said has restricted the county’s ability to regulate development, have made it more difficult for the board to respond to residents’ concerns about property rights without risking costly lawsuits. She cited a recent lawsuit the county faced over development restrictions in the Hammock area as an example.
Closing Pitch to Voters
Asked why voters should choose her over her opponents, Pennington said District 4 has been overlooked for a long time and needs continued advocacy, citing an unimplemented $90 million stormwater plan, more than 130 miles of unpaved roads, reliance on septic systems, and frequent power outages in the district. She said she would continue working to protect the district’s rural character from encroaching development by Bunnell and Palm Coast. She also said her experience over the past term, including familiarity with the county’s budget and funding structures, would be valuable if the property tax measure passes and the county has to navigate significant funding changes.
The post County Commissioner Leanna Pennington Seeks Reelection in District 4 first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
