COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Human resources professionals place as much emphasis as they do on a potential hire’s work history, because they know the best predictor of future behavior and performance is past behavior and performance.
For the very same sound reason, Vero Beach voters would be wise to consider carefully the facts surrounding city council candidate Charlie Wilson’s claim to have established residence within the city prior to Sept. 5, 2013. The City Charter requires candidates for city council to have lived within the city at least 12 consecutive months prior to the last day of the qualifying period, which this year is Sept. 5.
For those who may have forgotten, promising a net gain to the City of some $80 million from a sale of the electric system, in 2009 Wilson made a successful run for a seat on the city council. Less than a month after being elected, though, Wilson was removed from office by court order when Circuit Judge Paul Kanarek ruled he had not met the residency requirements for council candidates as clearly spelled out in the City Charter.
Wilson first claimed to have lived in a home within the city, but could not answer basic questions about the property. Wilson’s next ploy was to argue the City Charter did not require 12 months of consecutive residency prior to the end of the qualifying period. Wilson claimed to have lived in Vero Beach for a least 12 consecutive month, but many years earlier. This argument, Judge Kanarek said, strained the bounds of reason.
This time around, if Wilson has managed to establish residency within the city in time to run in the coming city council election, he has only done so by the skin of his chinny chin chin.
Here are the facts.
On Aug. 20, 2013 Wilson signed a six-month lease to rent an apartment at 2134 18th Avenue. On that same day, Wilson paid an initial rent installment of $2000 in cash.
The lease Wilson signed required that he pay the full $3000 in rent in advance before taking occupancy of the apartment. The beginning date for the lease was left blank.
Wilson’s landlord, Paul Schwambeck, gave Wilson a receipt for his Aug. 20 payment of $2000. At the bottom of the receipt, Schwambeck wrote a note indicating an additional $1000 would be due prior to occupancy.
On Aug. 21, 2013 Wilson went to the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections office to change his voter registration from an address outside the City of Vero Beach to 2134 18th Avenue.
On Aug. 28, Wilson paid a second rent installment of $500.
On Sept. 19, Wilson made a final rent installment of $500 in cash. That same day, the utilities at 2134A 18th Avenue were switched into Wilson’s name.
In a letter to City Clerk Tammy Vock, Wilson claimed the utilities were not switched until Sept.19 because that was the “end of the billing cycle.” A spokesperson for the City’s utilities department contradicted Wilson’s claim, saying the switch was made due to a move-in scheduled for Sept. 18. The spokesperson went on to explain that the end of the billing cycle for 2124 18th Avenue is typically between the 26th and the 29th of each month, not the 18th.
On August 5 of this year, after questions were raised about Wilson’s residency, Schwambeck wrote a letter to Vock claiming to have given Wilson keys to the apartment on August 20, 2013. The prior week, when questions by Inside Vero, Schwambeck said he could not remember when Wilson occupied the apartment, but that it was some time “well before September 19th.
In his letter to Vock, Schwambeck offered a differing explanation from Wilson’s for why the utilities were not switched into Wilson’s name until September 19, the same day Wilson paid the final rent installment. Schwambeck wrote, “Further, I gave Mr. Wilson permission to continue to reside at 2134 18th Avenue with the Electric under my name until it could be transferred which was done in September.”
During the 434 days prior to when the the utilities at 2134 18th Avenue were switched into Wilson’s name the utility charges averaged $4.48 per day. Since Sept. 19, 2013, the utility charges have averaged just $2.53 per day.
Weighing these facts, set against Wilson’s claims, voters must decide for themselves if Wilson is repeating history.
Indian River Guardian 
If Charlie actually moved in, it appears he used more electricity while the place was in the landlord’s name. He must have gotten really frugal once the electric was in his name, assuming he was there in more than name only. I think some of us realize that no matter what the rules are, Charlie will interpret said rules his way. We got your number, Mr. Wilson.
There are still key questions that need to be addressed: (1) What is the effective date of his voter registration change of address and identification of his new voting precinent made, and (2) When was his official change of address filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The answers to these questions should determine the true intent in regard to his permit residency.
Under Florida law regarding residency, there are requirements for multiple documentation reflect the permanent residence. The identification of this documentation can be found in the Voter Residency Guideliens for Florida updated February 2012.
Florida case law is very explicit in stating voting privileges are only for permanent residents. The permanent caveat is the only thing that prevents snowbirds from voting in Florida as well as their home state.
In my opinion Charlie Wilson is nothing more than a Carpetbagger who moves into the city when he wants to run for city council and moves out when not running. We all remember when he would only give his PO BOX number as his address when speaking at city council meetings
I do not believe his claim to living in the city prior to Sept. 6th will hold up in court. Swearing on a bible in court may change the story by some people.
In any event, he is a terrible choice for the council, just look at his nasty personal attacks ;his past history and his loyal support of the arrogant Tracy Carroll and her rental practices.