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Charlie Wilson’s 40 factual errors; Part One: Who is Charlie Wilson? ; Part Two: Who is Charlie Wilson?; Part Three: Who is Charlie Wilson?

COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

Utility activist, Charlie Wilson, who served on the City Council for all of a month in 2009 before being removed by court order for failing to have met residency requirements, is reportedly launching his own chamber of commerce to complete with the Indian River County Chamber.

Wilson is joined in his new enterprise by civic activist Mark Mucher and attorney Dan Stump, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the City Council in 2012. According a story posted this morning on the island tabloid’s website, VeroNews.com, a story that read more like a press release, Wilson, Mucher and Stump, operating under the name “Vero Beach Chamber” plan to charge membership fees of $195 for businesses up to 20 employees and $325 for larger businesses, with associates members charged $225.

On a local radio program yesterday morning, Wilson said, “Next Tuesday I want you to know there is going to be a very big business announcement…Over the next couple of weeks you are going to see a lot of press about what this group of business people are going to do…We are really looking forward to what’s going to happen in 2014 having to do with tourism and economic development and competition for business in the city of Vero Beach.”

Today, however, probably after seeing that InsideVero.com broke the story yesterday afternoon, Wilson seems to have encouraged his supporters at the island weekly to release a story favorably reporting his plans. Wilson was quoted in the island tabloid as claiming over half of the $500,000 the Chamber receives from the County goes to “subsidize their internal expenses.”

Like much of what Wilson’s says, this claim could not be farther from the truth. Audits of the Chamber’s financial reports to the County are public information and would easily have been available to Zahner, who seems to be serving, not as a journalist, but as Wilson’s publicist.

In truth, 27.7 percent of the current $350,563 tourism budget pays for salaries and benefits for a tourism director and partial staff.  These are payroll expenses the Chamber would not have if it were not carrying out tourism development on behalf of the County.  The remaining 72.3 percent of the Chamber’s tourism budget is used to pay for advertising, videos, printing, postage, travel to trade shows and conferences and hosting travel agents and travel writers. The Chamber does not charge and is not reimbursed for office rental, utilities and “internal expenses,” as Wilson claims.

Wilson, a frequent critic of government employees and an advocate of outsourcing, now appears opposed to the County’s decision to outsource tourism development and economic development, or it could be that he simply wants that work outsourced to him.

Wilson has long been critical of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and its handling of tourism and economic development. Don’t be surprised if it soon becomes clear Wilson’s ultimate objective is to go into the economic development and tourism development business.  He may be hoping to convince his former business associate, County Commissioner Tim Zorc, to help him wrest from the existing Chamber of Commerce contracts to do economic development and tourism development work on behalf of the county.

Wilson also charges that the Chamber is not specifically promoting tourism for Vero Beach.  Below is a copy of a email blast so to be sent to 30,000 op-in subscribers in the New York City and Toronto markets.

The island weekly story claimed the “gang of three” already have 10 members, including Matt Willis of Cardinal Property Management.  Willis was quoted as saying, “I’ve know Charlie a long time and I feel that he has the business acumen to bring something new marking for Vero Beach.”

I could not help but wonder if Willis knows of Wilson’s track record.

In 1988 Wilson came under scrutiny regarding his advertising company’s contract with the St. Lucie County Tourist Development Council. He had handled advertising for them from 1988-1991, and results of a county audit suggested he had overcharged or received money for services not rendered.  However, the auditors could find no evidence to prove he did it intentionally.  Wilson claimed the charges against him were politically motivated because of his involvement with the St. Lucie County Taxpayer’s Association, where he had served as chairman.

For now, anyone who receives a call from persons representing a “chamber” other than the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce  might be wise to ask a few questions before writing a check assuming they are joining the real Chamber.

In news brief posted late Wednesday, TCPalm.com reported Wilson as saying the new chamber will focus on boosing Vero Beach businesses and will not “interfere in the Indian River County Chamber’s efforts to attract new business to the county.”

Wilson’s statement, as reported by TCPalm.com, does not seem to square with his statement made Tuesday morning on local radio, nor does it square with what he reportedly told a reporter for VeroNews.com.  “The three-pronged focus of the new changer will be promoting tourism for Vero Beach, promoting economic development and maintaining the quality of life that is Vero Beach,” the island weekly reported on its online site earlier today.

Wilson claims the new chamber will not accept government funds, but at the same time gives as one reason for forming a new chamber he belief that the money currently invested by the County with the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce is not well spent.

Whatever Wilson might be scheming, it isn’t likely to become anything more than a wanna be chamber.  Like many of Wilson’s ideas, this one is a retread.  The movie title, “Failure to Launch,” would aptly describe Wilson’s earlier attempts to set himself up in the tourism and economic development business in Indian River County. Ironically, as critical as Wilson is of government employees, he seems to want desperately to be living off public funds.

Wilson could not be reached for comment.

New chamber’s logo, as filed with the state:

Articles of Incorporation:

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

In compliance with Chapter 617, F.S., (Not for Profit)

 ARTICLE I:  NAME

The name of the corporation shall be: Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce Inc.

ARTICLE II: PRINCIPAL OFFICE

Principal street address: 2001 19^th Ave Suite 105, Vero Beach, Fl. 32960

Mailing address is: P.O. Box 651114, Vero Beach, Fl. 32965

ARTICLE III: PURPOSE

The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to promote tourism, economic development, and prosperity in the City of Vero Beach, The Town of Indian River Shores and the Indian River Barrier Island while preserving the special way of life that is Vero Beach.

ARTICLE IV: MANNER OF ELECTION

The incorporators shall serve as an interim Board of Directors until March 31, 2014. Annually thereafter, permanent directors shall be nominated by the Executive Director and elected by a majority of the current directors.

ARTICLE V: INITIAL OFFICERS AND/OR DIRECTORS

Name and Title: Charles R. Wilson, Executive Director

Address: 2134 18^th Ave., Vero Beach, Fl. 32960

Name and Title: Dan Stump Esq., Registered Agent

Address: 4445 N. A1A, Suite 235, Vero Beach, Fl. 32963

Name and Title: Mark Mucher, Director

Address: 617 Indian Lilac, Vero Beach, Fl. 32963

ARTICLE VI: REGISTERED AGENT

Daniel C. Stump Esq.

4445 North A1A, Suite 235

Vero Beach, Fl., 32963

ARTICLE VII: INCORPORATOR

Charles R. Wilson

P.O. Box 651114

Vero Beach, Fl. 32965