COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Glenn Heran, a local utility activist and head of Citizens for a Better Future, an electioneering communication organization largely funded by Florida Power & Light, wrote the candidates for the Vero Beach City Council today asking them to sign a pledge to support the sale of Vero Electric to FPL.
Heran told the candidates he was approaching them on behalf of Citizens for a Better Future, but he did not bother to mention that the ECO is for all intents and purposes a political arm of FPL – at least it is largely funded by FPL. In its latest financial filing, Citizens for a Better Future reported that 98 percent of its donations to date have come from FPL.
“Our goal is to educate residents on where candidates in the 2013 election stand on important Vero Beach issues,” Heran wrote.
In the interest of the full disclosure he seeks, Heran might have mentioned that the FPL-funded ECO has already mailed post cards urging voters to support Tracy Carroll. The political mailing suggests Carroll is the only candidate who will work to conclude the sale of Vero Electric to FPL. Though Heran claims Citizens for a Better Future seeks to “educate” Vero Beach voters on issues (plural), in reality, the ECO’s singular focus is to push for the sale of Vero Electric to FPL.
“We are asking all candidates to pledge their support for the sale of the city-run electric utility system to FPL, and follow through on the referendum that voters overwhelmingly already approved in the March 2013 election,” Heran wrote.
City Councilman Richard Winger, who during a debate last week effectively dismissed Heran’s attempt to cast him as a opponent of the sale, forwarded Heran’s email to City Attorney Wayne Coment today, raising a number of questions. Winger has, in fact, consistently voted and worked to move the sale forward.
Because Heran indicated he emailed the “pledge” to the other candidates, presumably including Tracy Carroll, and because it addresses matters that will come before the Council, Winger concluded that under the Sunshine Law the email from Heran should be turned over to the City. Other’s who have read Heran’s proposed pledge have speculated that for two or more elected officials to receive and sign such a “pledge” could violate the spirit, if not the letter of the Sunshine Law.
In an email to Coment, Winger referenced a communication from transactional attorney John Igoe underscoring the fact that current and future City Council members are and will be obligated by law to act in good faith to conclude the sale of Vero Electric to FPL. Now that the City and FPL have a signed, binding contract, asking candidates to “pledge” to support the sale amounts to asking them to “pledge” not to break the law. SEE EARLIER STORY
Finally, Winger told Coment it seemed “totally inappropriate” for an organization that is largely funded by FPL to ask for such a commitment.
Indian River Guardian 
Who is Glenn Heran??
I would like them to sign a pledge that they will do the best for the citizens of the City of Vero Beach, not FPL, the county residents, Glenn Heran or Charlie Wilson
This is an act of desperation as it becomes more and more apparent that the FPL puppet Tracy Carroll will not get re-elected. Our candidates cannot bind themselves to a corporation and attempt to retain any credibility when their sole obligation as a council member is to find and serve the best interests of the people of Vero Beach.
Many of us are for the sale but abhor the smell of the clan that is trying to ram it down our throats. I would lose respect for a candidate who makes a pre-election pledge to support any special interest group or make a commitment on a specific future vote when, as we all know, facts and circumstances can change.
This PAC is clearly losing its grip.
Did Glen Heran sleep through his high schoo civics classes? Elections are about working for the benefit of the people not corporations!
Mr. Heran; will your candidate Tracy Carroll sign a pledge to do away with her weekly rentals? Will she pay state and city back taxes on every amount she has already collected on her previous rentals? Will she now accept Humanists now that elections are nearing? Has FPL paid you or plan on paying you Mr. Heran for you political efforts? Who are you to ask these candidates to make a pledge to FPL? Citizens for a BETTER future? FP&L’s better future.
Will Glenn sign a pledge to GO AWAY when Tracy loses. How about a pledge to be honest about the 38,000 dollars that just got spent by his former PAC. Who is he to ask candidates to do anything? Desparate times call for desparate measures. How many Winger signs are in this guys trunk? WINGER/GRAVES FOR A BETTER FUTURE. Less than a month away!!!
Well said everyone. The mere mention of a pledge speaks of cronyism and lobbyists.
This is nothing more than attempt by Heran to divert attention away from the public record of Tracy Carroll. Such issues as WEEKLY RENTALS, giving away the DOG PARK, and RELIGIOUS BIGOTY, ARROGANCE and lots more come to mind . I also would like to see Tracy Carroll renounce weekly rentals, and give a public apology to all those she offended with her bigoted statements . I would like to see her stop whispering in the mayor’s ear at council meetings .Heran’s recent demand must be taken for what it is, a political distraction in an attempt to win the election for the much disliked Tracy Carroll. An investigation by the proper authorities should be undertaken at once. Maybe the candidates should sign the pledge, BUT only after Tracy Carroll signs a pledge to do away totally with weekly rentals and never again try to give away public lands to private groups. The electric sale is a done deal,Heran knows it, we all know it ,so let’s move on. Finally, All candidates ,at the 32963 debate stated that they were in favor of the sale of Vero Electric, so lets stop with this phoney pledge signing. Mr Heran is too obvious
The pledge is sought by a group sponsored by FPL. It is important to remember that the responsibility of City Council members is to abide by contracts, negotiate in good faith and represent the interests of the City of Vero Beach. An unequivocal commitment to support FPL abrogates that responsibility. One cannot serve two masters.
http://beagardner.com/2013/10/my-big-night-out/
In this article on Bea-isms I did ask the question…..Who is Glenn Heran?
I was referring to the fact that the County Commissioners are paying his expenses to shadow the high priced lobbyist ($78,000.00) to try to twist arms with FMPA to come around to a quick solution. So, maybe it’s time for all of of to really find out….Who is Glenn Heran, better known on Bea-isms as the Red Herring. One thing we do know, he is highly unethical.
Glenn Heran ,the FPL mouth that roared, but who is listening ? Just who does this inflated FPL mouthpiece think he is to demand anything from anybody ? Most people are tired of him and his over inflated ego. Give back the FPL money and keep quiet for a while, you are redundant and boring. While we are in a demanding mood, I demand Tracy Carroll sign a pledge to never again rent her house on a weekly or daily basis. We have not heard from you on this most serious issue. Until then keep quiet.
When is the circuit court decision due?