COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
FPL is now investing tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to pay for political advertising and other campaigning on behalf of Tracy Carroll.
The corporate utility giant is hardly a neutral observe when it comes to the Nov. 5 Vero Beach City Council Election. Yet, just yesterday, the Taxpayers’ Association invited FPL spokeswoman Amy Brunjes to present the company’s case for retaining the current City Council.
Quite inappropriately, Brunjes’ electioneering at the Taxpayers’ Association luncheon preceded a candidate forum. It should not be lost on anyone that the FPL-funded electioneering communication organization, Citizens for a Better Future, is controlled by Glenn Heran, who is also president of the Taxpayers’ Association.
Another strong proponent of FPL, local builder Toby Hill, calls the shots for the local Tea Party, so it should be no surprise that organization has planned to stage a opportunity for FPL to contuct still more politicking.
The group will host a luncheon at the Heritage Center Thursday, Oct. 24, where FPL will have yet another opportunity to put is corporate spin on how Tracy Carroll must be re-elected.
Just this week, post cards largely paid for by FPL, arrived in local mail boxes delivering the dubious claim that Carroll “has worked to ensure that all citizens are treated fairly.” Equally unbelievable is the assertion that the Vice Mayor, recently cited for violating City Code, is “working with staff to make sure our codes are clear, easy to understand and meet or exceed state standards.”
The Vice Mayor who would transform the city’s quiet central beach neighborhoods into a mecca for short-term rentals, is, according to Citizens for a Better Future, “leading our city in the right direction.”
All of this FPL-funded propaganda is “information” Brunjes said yesterday FPL wants voters to have in order that they can make an informed decision in favor of Carroll.
Indian River Guardian 
The Indian RIver Tea Party is risking their tax exempt status by being involved in a luncheon that will include FP&L. The voters already know that the status of the sale to FP&L. The “leaders” of COVB have already signed the contract for the sale..
This is a clear case where one needs to follow the money — is the luncheon really going to be paid for by the Tea Party or FP&L? The public needs to know who is catering the event and how they are being paid.
The Indian River Tea Party is not really like the Tea Parties in other parts of the Country. In fact, they fancy themselves as not being like the National Tea Parties. They seem to be a group of guys who really morphed themselves from another group that was called Common Ground. The Common Ground group was a PAC that got involved in politics as a rival to the Indian River Neighborhood Association. Looks to me as though they are up to their old tricks which is getting behind and promoting certain candidates and in this case that would be Tracy Carroll.
Yes, Pat, I would be surprised if the Tea Party were paying for paying for the FPL dog and pony show. I would think it is probably being paid for by FPL and Tea Party is lending their name. And, the beat goes on.
lets see isn’t the tea party supposed to be about small government? so the city sells the grid and to keep what little vero does for the people. they get more taxes and also no promise from fpl to keep the rates lower then what vero has at present. fpl this year raised their rates twice!
As I understand it, the Tea Party is about less government. Selling a government owned and run municipality is a form of smaller government. FPL has the lowest rates in Florida which cannot be said of the Vero FMPA OUC supplied power. Of course property taxes will go up to cover the loss of income form the powerplant. Nobody wants to talk about that part though. Will it mean less overall costs for the average homeowner in the city? Maybe nobody knows that answer yet.
There is a lot of financial opportunity to tempt those with the power to improve (corrupt) the codes, allowing 20 story high rise condos and hotels to line our Vero Beaches. Just imagine the new power requirements, contracting deals, development $, etc. which could arrive as a function of this election.
Being cited is not the same as being guilty. The code enforcement board ruled no laws had been violated. Codes cited were 60.11, 61.02 and 65.06. Nothing is stated or implied about short term rentals in those codes or any others on the books. Have the other 200 “violators” been “Cited” too?
Codes enforcement does not cruise around the City looking for violations – as far as I know. They do look into possible violations when someone calls with a complaint. I could complain about the house across the street from us being used as not as a residence but a place to create certain items…..There are no loud parties, junk cars on the lawn, accumulated freebie papers in driveway, uncut grass, garbage strewn all over……BUT if anything changes, a call will be made. When someone flaunts a code, it’s one thing. If someone misunderstands a code and corrects the problem, it’s another.
She has flaunted the codes and she does know better since she is a council person. Period !
Actually Lakeland has lower average residential bills and they contribute to their cities general fund to keep the taxes low. Hasn’t anyone noticed FPL is not advertising they have the lowest rates in Florida, why? Because they don’t lakeland does and they are a member of FMPA.