COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Press Journal columnist and Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers’ resident intellectual, Russ Lemmon, is reportedly polling candidates for the Vero Beach City Council. What, you might wonder, is on Lemmon’s mind? One and only one subject — the sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light, come hell or hight water.
Like his political sponsee, Charlie Wilson, Lemmon is determined to force the sale of Vero Electric to FPL, regardless of the shifting terms and rising costs to the City of Vero Beach and its residents and taxpayers.
Don’t be surprised if one of Lemmon’s next droppings offers a taste of his deep thinking on how and why the voters of Vero Beach should support city council candidates who will usher in higher electric rates, higher taxes and further cuts in municipal services.
And don’t be surprised if Lemmon and the rest of Press Journal’s team of watchdog reporters remain silent on the obvious questions that should be asked about Charlie Wilson’s residency qualifications and about the efforts of at least one member of the Shores Town Council to skirt around both the spirit and the letter of Florida’s open government laws.
Indian River Guardian 
Just think how concerned Russ Lemmon would be if he actually lived in the city of Vero Beach. Is there nothing in Fellsmere or Sebastian two other cities he does not live in that he can give his attention to? Or maybe he could talk county issues for the county residents where he really resides. I wish winter would get here so he could give his undivided attention to counting out of state car plates, which is what he is qualified for.
The recent news about Scripps selling the Vero Press Journal, left me wondering how are we going to be able to learn about the tourists visiting the community without his reporting on license plates that he has seen.
While sitting at the traffic light the other day when we had a cloudburst, I counted vehicles without their headlights turned on. How much more interesting than counting license plates from other states. In the short time I sat at that light (Rt 60 and 20th Ave), about a dozen vehicles passed by without headlights on. Somebody ought to do something about that. Russ Lemmon, while you are agitating the masses, bring up THAT subject! Yes, Vero Beach residents are being picked on right and left. It may take a hurricane to show the value of our power system and the people who do their best to keep the lights on. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
I wonder if Russ will take Charlie Wilson back to Toledo with him? My crystal ball tells me “Yep, Charlies got some splanen to do”. I wonder if he has thought twice about running for City Council………………..again? If any one knows Charlie…………probably not.
Well if nothing else good comes out of the closing of th e Press Journal, at least the one sided reporting will no longer dominate the news of the area and cater to a group of people who really dont contribute anything to the community except their opinions at gatherings.
If the Press Journal goes out of business Charlie Wilson will lose his personal PR firm.