COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Long on wishful thinking and short on reporting skills and open mindedness, Press Journal columnist, Russ Lemmon, continues to misinform his readers about the proposed sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light. Today, Lemmon wrote, “A divided council made it easy for the FMPA (Florida Municipal Power Agency) to play hardball with the contracts.”
Lemmon’s assertion that it was ever within the Council’s power to dictate terms to the FMPA is pure baloney – as in Charlie-Wilson-style political baloney. From the beginning of the effort to sell Vero Electric, Lemmon has ignored indisputable facts, failed to educate himself on the insurmountable impediments to the sale, and has swallowed hook, line and sinker FPL’s pro-sale propaganda.
On numerous occasions over several years, I have tried to help Lemmon understand that the City’s contractual obligations to the FMPA and its bondholders would likely prevent the sale. Every time I have communicated with Lemmon about the proposed sale, and specifically about the FMPA contracts, it has been as if there is no one home.
In advance of the March 2013 referendum, the passage of which was pushed repeatedly by Lemmon and the Press Journal editorial board, I explained to Lemmon that the FMPA would never be given approval from its bond counsel to amend its contracts, and for good reasons. Undeterred, Lemmon wrote a column assuring his readers that if they approved the asset purchase and sale agreement with FPL they would have FPL rates by the spring of 2014.
My reporting, I told Lemmon at the time, led me to believe a partial sale is all that would ever be possible. Now, rather than encouraging a sale of the City’s out-of-city customers to FPL at a fair price, Lemmon is cheering on the Indian River Shores Town Council and the Indian River County Commission as they seemingly do FPL’s bidding in an effort to pull off a partial “steal.”
Further confusing propaganda with fact, Lemmon wrote today, “The three foot-dragging council members – Jay Kramer, Richard Winger and Amelia Graves – have no one to blame but themselves,” for the Shores’ lawsuit and the County Commission’s complaint filed this week with the Florida Public Service Commission.
Lemmon concluded his column, “In the end, I’m confident the 20,700 Vero Beach customers outside the city limits will have FPL as their electric provider. It’s just going to take a few years longer than a straight sale.”
Absent from Lemmon’s column is any concern for fairness and for the financial well being of the city. Lemmon also seems unconcerned about the level of animus now infecting the community. In truth, Lemmon and his editor’s at the Press Journal, due to their one-side and misguided reporting, deserve at least some of the blame for perpetuating what is fast becoming a “no-win” for the community, but a huge bonanza for FPL.
Editor’s Note: FPL Vice President of External Affairs Amy Brunjes has been the point person in the utility giant’s effort to acquire Vero Electric. Amy Brunjes is the wife of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Publisher Bob Brunjes.
Indian River Guardian 
It will only be another six months or so and Mr Lemmon can go back to what his is best qualified for, that is counting out of state plates in the Walmart parking lot and not trying to report on something he knows nothing about.
I do not understand how anyone can be so dense in their thinking. Mr. Lemmon surely must be following the instructions from his boss(es). At least I hope that is the reason for his “take” on this subject.
This might be the worst, most misinformed column I have every read of Russ Lemmon’s. It pains me to say that after the great column he wrote about Osceola Park last week. The FMPA contracts have always been a sticking point, but now it’s being blamed on three city council people? And hasn’t Jay Kramer been talking about a partial sale for at least a year?
I disagree Russ Lemmon is not misinformed ,he is a specialist in PJ propaganda who knows what the truth is ,but he likes working and collecting a paycheck . His other goal is to get Charlie Wilson elected even if he must twist the truth and facts to obtain that outcome. He is not a respected member of his profession.
Russ Lemmon usually writes about matters most trivial with occasional burst of bombast. He certainly offered the latter with his screed against the current City Council. I know the Mayor and Amelia Graves and know them both to be persons of integrity and intelligence. I believe Jay Kramer to be of the same caliber. Mr. Lemmon should save his comments for his usual trivia and leave important matters to those who know what they’re doing and what they’re talking about.