MARK SCHUMANN
News reports published prior to the November 6, 2012 election raised questions about the accuracy of then County Commission candidate Tim Zorc’s financial disclosure statement. At the time, Zorc reported a net worth of $232,991, with total assets of $4,647,085 and liabilities of $4,414,095.
In explaining why, with a net worth of more than $200,000, he has yet to pay his 2012 Indian River County property taxes of $8,329, Commissioner Zorc said his assets are the subject of litigation and cannot be converted to cash to settle debts.
Zorc also has liens against his home totaling more than $20,000, including $8,567 from Meeks Plumbing, $8,220 from the Pointe West Property Owners Association, and $4,464 from Vero Millworks.
In addition to being delinquent on his 2012 property taxes, Zorc missed the July 1 deadline for filing an updated financial disclosure statement with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Kerrie Stillman, a spokeswoman for the FCE, said Zorc has until Sept. 3 to file an updated financial statement before the Commission begins assessing a fine of $25 per day.
Zorc said he has requested from the FCE and has yet to receive written instructions on how to value his assets, which are the subject of a lawsuit filed against his former business partners in February 2012. With or without guidance from the FCE, Zorc said he plans to submit an updated financial statement by Sept. 3.
At issue during the 2012 campaign was an accusation by Zorc’s former business partner, Chuck Mechling, that he, Zorc, had greatly overstated the value of assets and receivables from Southern Classic Homes, LLC, and its subsidiary Southern Classic Homes Signature Series, Inc.
Mechling, who supported Zorc’s opponent for the District 3 County Commission seat, claimed lots Zorc listed as being worth some $3.35 million were really worth no more than $700,000. Wells Fargo has since foreclosed on the properties.
In his financial statement filed with the Supervisor of Elections in June 2012, Zorc also listed as assets $360,000 in back pay from Southern Classic Signatures Series, a $319,000 loan to the company, and $100,000 in stock in the failed partnership.
Mechling, who is named in the 2012 lawsuit filed by Zorc, was quoted in an October 2012 news report saying, “I will sell you my stock in Southern Classic Homes Signature Series for $100. No, make that $50. In fact, I will give it to you in exchange for a meal if you take me out to lunch.”
Zorc’s lawsuit contends Mechling inappropriately transferred assets from Southern Classic Homes to Pointe West. Mechling denies the charge.
Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, it seems unlikely even a victory would improve Zorc’s financial position, since Wells Fargo has also foreclosed on Pointe West.
Indian River Guardian 
Just goes to show if you can not make it in free enterprise get elected to public office and use your “success” in the business world to run the government.
I exposed some of this way back when he and I were competing for the District 3 seat nomination in the Republican Primary. At that time the press and the public gave him a pass in order to support him in the primary. In the General election, after he beat me in the primary, Mechling fought hard to expose Zorc’s finances in order for his candidate Tony Donadio to get a leg up. Did not help….Zorc won the primary and the general election and the beat goes on.
The real culprit here is the Press Journal and the “63” rags….They had the paper work (campaign financial reports) supporting this information and yet….get this folks, yet they chose to endorse him for being a good business man. Hmmm.
As I recall, at that time he owed over $44,000.00 on his American Express card. I wonder how far his $57,000.00 Commission salary will go to pay off his debts. Just saying.
Surely there is some other way of determining the value of his assets – rather than waiting for FCE to send instructions. Mr. Zorc might try doing the best he can with the information he has–and giving as much detail as possible. For some reason we believe those we elect must be good examples for us all. I am sure Mr. Zorc realizes this situation and how it’s been handled thus far hasn’t shown he’s capable of doing this. Nobody is perfect but I believe the bar is set higher for our elected leaders.
Zorc, a friend of Charlie Wilson. Need I say more!
And, just remember this Frank. Charlie Wilson implied to me early in the campaign that I ought to drop out of the race or…..”Young lady, if I were you I’d find me a good attorney” He said that to me at the Hibiscus Festival while I was knee deep in getting petitions signed. Yep, Zorc sure knows how to pick his friends. BTW, I wonder if he ever got the commission Charlie Wilson owed him on the Art Museum impact fee deal?