Landlord, Paul Schwanbeck, says Wilson moved in some time before Sept. 19 but could not name a specific date

Editor’s Note: In Nov. 2007, acting as executive director of the St. Lucie Association, Charlie Wilson questioned Fort Pierce mayoral candidate, Rick Reed’s, residency status.  At the time, Wilson, also brother of candidate Harold “Buzz” Smyth, was quoted in a press report saying, “We heard all the rumors (about Reed’s ineligibility), so we decided we were going to bring it out in the open so we can get a ruling from the city attorney (and) people don’t waste their votes.”

MARK SCHUMANN

According to Indian River County Supervisor of Elections Leslie Swan, Vero Beach City Council candidate Charlie Wilson changed his address on file with her office on Aug. 21, 2013.  In doing so, Wilson was attesting to living at 2134 18th Avenue as of that date.

Wilson signed a lease with local Realtor Paul Schwanbeck on Aug. 20 and paid $2,000 to cover rent through Dec. 31, 2013. Consistent with the terms of the lease, a note Schwanbeck wrote at the bottom of Wilson’s Aug. 20 receipt indicates Wilson would be required to pay an additional $1,000 in rent “prior to occupancy.”  Wilson made his final two payments of $500 each on Aug. 28 and Sept. 19.  Sept. 19 is also the date when the utilities at 2134 18th Avenue were switched from Schwanbeck to Wilson.

In a letter to City Clerk Tammy Vock, Wilson wrote, “It should be noted the landlord owner of this property kept the utility in his name until the end of his billing period.”

A spokesperson in the City’s Utilities Department contradicted Wilson’s claim, explaining the billing period for 2134 18th Avenue ends near the end of the month, typically between the 26th and the 29th.  A review of billing records back to May 2012 confirmed that, with the exception of changes in tenancy, the utility bills for 2134 18th Avenue are issued near the end of each month, and are usually for billing cycles of 29 to 21 days, not for just 23 days, as was the case with the final bill issued to Schwanbeck on Sept. 19.

In response to an inquiry from Inside Vero Schwanbeck said today that despite the note he wrote at the bottom of Wilson’s Aug. 20 receipt, he allowed Wilson to move in prior to making his Sept. 19 payment and prior to switching the utilities to his name.  Schwanbeck could not recall a date when Wilson occupied the apartment.