COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
In a “guest column” which several commenters suggested read like a free political advertisement, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers let Vero Beach City Council candidate, Charlie Wilson, make his case for election. (Wilson previously ran for and won a seat on the City Council in 2009. He was removed from office one month later by court order.)
Topping Wilson’s self-serving political column was a large Florida Power & Light logo. Wilson is an ardent, even extremist supporter of handling Vero Electric over to the state’s largest utility giant.
One has to wonder if Scripps management is now prepared to offer free advertising to all political candidates and to wealthy corporations.
Editor’s Note: FPL Vice President of External Affairs Amy Brunjes is the wife of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Publisher Bob Brunjes.
Indian River Guardian 
I don’t suppose newspapers have any moral or legal obligation to give free ads to anyone running for office of any kind. No doubt Scripps makes enough off of FPL’s ads that Charles’ little space-filler doesn’t amount to anything major…….especially with so much at stake for the Brunjes’ family and all the rest of the FPL backers.
I find this whole Charlie Wilson and Scripps love fest to be very distasteful. The only good news is who cares – he will soon go by the wayside as did Tracy Carroll.
This is no surprise to me, seeing good ol’ Chuckie Wilson will say or do ANYTHING for a “free ride”.
Free radio spots, free print advertising, free time on the TV with that Govt channel, this feeble opportunist will seemingly do anything to get elected and utterly destroy Vero’s “way of life” so Chuckie can cash in.
With “ZERO” money invested.
And I also have to wonder, how many refunds is he up to now for that chamber thing he has going on?
Ethics elude this clown.
Forgive me, but I don’t understand how any of Charlie Wilson’s suggestions for keeping the FPL deal alive can change the existing contractual law. To me, that’s been the sticking point the whole time.