COMMENTARY
MILT THOMAS
Russ Lemmon’s column this morning included an item about Amelia Graves’ political signs. He questioned why her signs stressed the short term rental issue when mainland voters are not concerned about that but about lower electric bills.
Lemmon seems to have had more than a sip or two of FPL’s Kool-Aid, for he is arguing this election is about the sale of the electric system. It is not. Graves has made clear her intention to support the sale as the Council considers needed changes to the agreement, so long as those changes to not increase the cost to the City and its taxpayers.
While it is a valid point that short term rentals would be more of an issue on the beachside, what he might be missing is that voters all over Vero Beach are concerned with Tracy Carroll’s behavior on the City Council and what it means for our quality of life in the future. Besides, as I recall there has been instances on the mainland where homes rented to flight school students caused a problem in the neighborhood.
To Lemmon’s point, Tracy Carroll’s signs all reflect her undying support for the electric sale and lower electric bills. In fact, her signs look remarkably similar to the referendum signs last March, supporting the electric sale and lower electric bills. Those signs were paid for through Citizens for a Brighter Future, Glenn Heran’s PAC, financed by FPL. The Tracy Carroll signs were paid for through Citizens for a Better Future, Glenn Heran’s new PAC, financed 99% by FPL. Of course, there is some question as to which of those similarly named PACs actually financed the latest signs, the one-word difference in their names being the difference between a legal use of FPL funds and an illegal use. Use of the term “Brighter” is a clever play on words related to electricity, but is the new PAC “Better” for Vero or better for FPL?
We know voting for Tracy Carroll is better for them, but it remains to be seen if it is better for us.
Indian River Guardian 
Milt is correct on all points. It is also no coincidence that the PJ editorial board decided to write about the Kaitlyn Hunt sad situation today. The readers of the PJ know that Kaitlyn Hunt was represented in her legal actions by Amelia Hunt’s mother. The fact that this is an election coming up should not be dismissed as a concidence. I don’t usually buy into conspiracy theories but the editorial may indeed have been a subtle attempt to have some guilt by association created in the minds of some voters.
If the PJ truly believes new legislation is needed, they could have published their suggestion after the municipal election.
Once again Lemmon demonstrates that he doesn’t have a clue about anything regarding Vero Beach but in his defense, the article was probably written by Amy Brunjes.
FP&L and The PJ will do to any length to get The WEEKLY RENTAL QUEEN of VERO Beach re-elected. I do believe the weekly rental problem is not limited to the barrier island. By the way, I thought that everyone in the United States is entitled to legal representation . Let us not forget that Lemmon is paid by the PJ. He “dances “to the tune called by AMY and Bob Brunjes. Does FPL stand for Free Press Lost ?
The whole paper appears to be written and edited by Brunjes, husband and wife. The worst of the rental problems are on the mainland, for sure, but why would any fact stop lemon from publishing this garbage?
Maybe Russ should attend a City Council meeting to hear mainlanders complain about short term rentals….or watch Carroll, Turner and Fletcher vote to increase Vero electric rates. I’m just saying.