COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
As with Florida Power & Light External Affairs Manager Amy Brunjes’ recent letter to Vero Beach voters, an epistle mailed this week by candidate, Charlie Wilson, needs fact checking.
In his campaign letter, Wilson lays blame for the stalled electric sale negotiations squarely and exclusively on the current city council. Based on their endorsement published today, the “Stuart” Press Journal editorial board seems to have bought into this nonsense.
Wilson argues that if the city council were as bellicose and threatening as he can be, Florida Municipal Power Agency leaders would agree to set aside their legal obligations to other FMPA members and to the joint action agency’s bondholders.
Wilson must be a Harry Potter fan, for he seems to believe focused mental energy can move otherwise immovable objects; and sheer, dogged determination – and enough Florida Power & Light money – is supposedly all that is needed to obviate contracts already validated by the Florida Supreme Court.
In his campaign letter, Wilson contends city leaders cannot effectively address the Indian River Lagoon crisis until the electric system is in the hands of FPL. In addition to greatly exaggerating what the city can accomplish on its own with the Lagoon, Wilson seem to be suggesting the $20 million he claims is being unfairly extracted from Vero Electric customers should, instead, be spent on the Lagoon.
Assuming the electric sale can be concluded, is Wilson proposing to collect $20 million a year from the current 34,000 customers of Vero Electric in the form of a “Lagoon tax?”
“Instead of hiring scientists to study the lagoon we are hiring lawyers. Instead of funding lagoon preservation we are sending $20 million dollars a year to FMPA,” Wilson wrote.
Finally, as a footnote, and only as a footnote, Wilson raises brief and belated concern over All Aboard Florida’s plans to run 18 high speed trains a day through Vero Beach. Unfortunately, by his own admission, the man who would be mayor appears ill prepared to address the numerous pressing issues facing the city.
Effective leaders need to be able to administer multiple responsibilities. Wilson’s latest campaign letter raises serious questions about whether he is up for the job.
Indian River Guardian 
Where the heck did the $90,000,000 disappear to Mr Wilson? Last time you ran we were going to get $90,000,000 from the sale. If we were able to get the $90,000,000 maybe our property tax would not have to double like it will with the present agreement.
When Wilson ran in 2009, he claimed to have a 12-month plan. Now he claims to have a 24-month plan.
Not only do effective leaders need to administer multiple responsibilities, they also need to understand the limitaions on responsibilities. The Indian River Lagoon issue is a Federal government and state government responsibility. If anyone wants to increase the potential impact of the City of Vero Beach on such issues, they would be a part of the Seven50 agenda which exists to provide effective solutions that affect more than one governmental organization.
Issues like the Indian River Lagoon need to be considered by studying the issues and getting appropriate information from scientists not lawyers.or political office holders..
Any one who wants to improve the Indian River Lagoon, should vote for the candidate who is willing to do the hard job of working across political lines and work for the community. Check the voting record of the incumbents and realize that the past is the best guage of the future.
(1) FPL doesn’t have the lowest rates in Florida
(2) Wilson’s sale numbers were wrong from the start
(3) Wilson’s friends have been in charge from 2009 and could not close the sale
(4) Wilson is not capable of working with anyone in a friendly manner. It is his way or else
(5) Wilson’s behavior at council meetings proves my point
(6) If only one member city of FMPA votes “NO” the sale cannot be done
(7) Several cities said “NO” at the outset and nothing has changed except it took $2 Million to drive that point home
(8) IF Wilson got his way and Vero sunk $20 million into lagoon restoration and no other governing body did likewise ,we would be out $20 million and the lagoon would still be in trouble
(9) We have learned the hard and expensive way that Wilson will say or do anything for a vote
(10) Wilson, the sale is dead ,stop trying to beat a dead horse
We’ve all watched as this person stood at the microphone, ranting, raving, and accusing the City Council of not working hard enough to FORCE this sale. This bullying stance makes me wonder if–were he elected–he would put up with the same kind of commenting from the floor. Would he allow almost unlimited time to drive their message home to the Council. If this sale EVER happens, I for one want to see it handled properly, without rancor. I don’t believe it can be done with this person sitting on the dais.
the lagoon, is from Brevard county to palm beach county. of those how many would have been in the seven fifty plan? and also why make dade, broward , pay for a clean up they don’t even have acess to?