COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Glenn Heran, utility activist and president of the Taxpayers Association, says what the people of Vero Beach need is less government. Though Heran doesn’t put his position in exactly these terms, the reality is he does not favor “Keeping Our Vero, Vero,” at least not if that means foregoing drastic cuts in the city’s general fund budget, cuts he says are long overdue.
Heran is also the head of a political action committee now sitting on nearly $30,000 in FPL money. This fall, Heran will be free to use FPL’s $30,000, donated in advance of the March 12 referendum, to fund candidates who will support his limited government theory, and who will continue to push for the sale of Vero Electric to FPL on any terms and at any price, regardless of the ultimate cost to the city.
In truth, Heran’s fundamentalists Libertarian theory that less government is necessarily better is no more credible than the theory of supply side economics, which has given us nothing but increases deficits and a greater disparity of wealth.
Councilwoman Tracy Carroll will almost surely make a bid to keep her seat, and can expect Heran’s support. Utility Chairman Scott Stradley, a member of the board of the Taxpayer’s Association, has been using more and more microphone time to preside over Utility Commission meetings. Stradley, who now also appears regularly before the City Council, has been mentioned as a possible challenger for Richard Winger’s seat. If Stradley runs, he, too, can expect plenty of FPL money to be spent on his behalf.
In the end, if Heran and the Taxpayers Association, and their cousins over at the Tea Party have their way, they will end up presiding over the death of the city, which might be exactly what they have in mind.
Indian River Guardian 
yep
I can not quite remember where exactly in the city limits does Mr Heran live? He probably lives in the same city limits that Charlie Wilson lives in.
That’s a good question, John. The last time Glenn addressed the Council, he declined to give his address. Charlie gives his address as a PO box. In the interest of full disclosure, I do not live within the city limits, but I also do not try to hide that fact, and I don’t pretend to be sleeping in a PO box.
In fact, when you think about it, Glenn Heran, Charlie Wilson, Rock Tonkel, Alice Johnson and others spend a lot of time complaining about “taxation without representation,” while redressing a government to which they pay no taxes. Since the Council troika of Carroll, Fletcher and Turner listens more to Heran, Wilson and Tonkel that it does to any of its taxpaying residents, it is hard to argue that these disaffected county residents are “taxed” without representation. It’s a cute line, reminiscent of American Revolutionary days, but it just doesn’t square with the current reality.
Surely the city has extended its limits recently to 1964 Grey Falcon Circle SW 32962. It must be because this mailing address for Citizens for a Brighter Future, which has a very keen interest in our city finances, is located there.
Input from non residents should not be allowed at city council meetings.
Everyone should be required to give their true address and non-city residents should put their thoughts in wriitng.You all are wasting our time. We don’t care where you used to live or that you think your thoughts are relevant to us. Thank you.
If these individuals (Heran, Wilson, Tonkel, etc) really cared about the City of Vero Beach, I should think they’d move into the city and actually become a part of it. I can’t speak for them, but I suspect the only future they’re interested in is their own. Apparently money can buy anyone.
Just one more point. If in fact Mr Heran, Mr Wilson and the others do not live in the portion of the county that the city does supply electric to, then they could not have taxation without representation since they are not using our electricity. But I am pretty sure that is they launch a boat from central beach ramps, or enjoy our water front parks, or park for free in the city limits they are not offering to pay for those benefits they do get for free.
Third try at commenting… true, no non-city resident should be allowed to comment, except if they are receiving city utility. And try “taxation without representation” with FPL. Good luck with that. Wouldn’t anyone rather visit City Hall with a complaint than be a lost number of millions who has to go to Tallahassee just to be heard?