COMMENTARY
“For a story putting Winger’s and Kramer’s words in a more helpful perspective, look for next week’s issue of Inside Vero.”
MARK SCHUMANN
In a story that deteriorated from mean-spirited and biased “news analysis” to amateur psycho analysis, barrier island tabloid reporter, Lisa Zahner, a frequent critic of Vice Mayor Jay Kramer, revealed that she seems to still be choking on sour grapes over the outcome of the November city council election.
“Winger’s defensive body language was closed-off to Kramer during much of the discussion, with his right hand held up to his face – blocking his view of Kramer in the vide mayor’s chair – yet remaining open to turner as the left,” Zahner wrote.
In her trademark boorish and antagonistic tone, Zahner went from reading body language to reading minds, when she claimed Inside Vero is committed to killing the sale of the electric system. Zahner seems to believe reporting the full truth, or at least more than one side of a story, amounts to having an agenda. She and her editors have become so accustomed to serving up partial truths that they confuse what they are doing with responsible journalism.
Honest and well-intentioned people can disagree about the best approach for lowering rates. For Zahner and her editors, though, either you see it their way, or you are wrong.
Ever the skeptics, Zahner and her editors have long accused Mayor Richard Winger of being disingenuous in his calls to conclude the sale of the electric system to FPL, if at all possible. Somehow, Zahner is now surprised to learn that Winger has all along meant what he said. Beyond revealing her utter amazement at Winger’s determination to conclude the sale, Zahner showed a level of spitefulness toward Kramer that, though typical of the island weekly, is hardly professional.
Though the island tabloid has begun subjecting a few thousand homes in “upscale” mainland neighborhoods (their characterization) with its negativity and vitriol, those who care about Vero Beach can take heart that the majority of the island weekly’s circulation is still outside the city limits, in “upmarket” neighborhoods on the north and south barrier island.
For a story putting Winger’s and Kramer’s words in a more helpful perspective, look for next week’s issue of Inside Vero.
Indian River Guardian 
Mark, I read this article and I attended the same council meeting. What was written has no relationship to reality. The mean spirited reporter (?) is at it again, only this time it’s Jay Kramer in her sights. But , this is nothing new for this publication. We all remember the hatchet job they did on Amelia Graves . It didn’t work and she was elected beating their candidate ” short term rental queen “Tracy Carroll . A rumor is circulating that the expanded circulation of 32963 is being funded by the same electric company that tried to buy our last election. Councilman Kramer has every right to ask questions and refute statements that are incorrect . There is no question that .unless you submit yourself to their ” Group Think” Benji and Lisa will attack with as many low blows as they can get away with. PS the sour grapes Lisa has been eating lately have lots of pits.
If rumor you alluded to proves true, it wound’t surprise me. At $1 a piece, which is approximately what it costs to mail and print a publication like the island weekly, they have increased their expenses some $150,000 a year – and all in response to Inside Vero. Regarding outside sources of funding, I also wouldn’t be surprised to learn that FPL is helping Charlie Wilson get his new chamber started. Wilson’s sidekick, Mark Mucher, said pushing for the sale of the electric system will be one of the group’s priorities.
Mark, Rest assured the so called new chamber of commerce will be the most political chamber in history. The Wilson CC will be a front group for FP&L and will be heavily involved in local and county politics . FP&L probably will supply the money for Vero’s next election and do it thru the Wilson CC. Why? Because the Glenn Heran PAC was obviously all about FP&L and Tracy Carroll. Voters resented FP&Ls blatant interference in our political process. I don’t suppose the Wilson group will have to divulge their money sources this time .The Wilson CC will fool no one either.
I do not know what you guys are worried about. According to Glen Heran in 2009 the city will be walking away with a check for $150,000,000 that is why he and Charlie Wilson are pushing for the city to sell all along. And the lady from FPL said that check will be showing up in a couple of months. Surely they would not mislead us?
Well said ,John—- Glenn, Charlie and Amy would never mislead us. Too bad the $150,000,000 will turn out to be quite a bit less. We will be lucky to get $3,000,000 if we are lucky.
There irony here is that Zahner accused Kramer of feeding “information (and misinformation) to bloggers and publications bent on stopping the sale of Vero Electric to FPL.” The truth seems to be that Zahner and the “newspaper” for which she works has served a the primary vehicle through which the likes of Heran, Wilson, the troika, and FPL’s spokespersons have been able to misinform, if not mislead, a great number of unsuspecting barrier island readers. Zahner has been seen to be chummy with Heran and Wilson, and makes no secret about it. My view is that Zahner has been far more interested in doing the pro-sale crowd’s bidding for them than she has been in serving as a responsible journalist.
Mark, Just look at what Zahner tried to do to Amelia Graves in Nov. Zahner sickens me .