COMMENTARY

LYNNE LARKIN

We already know that Turner is in bed with FPL. The most recent indication is her editorial with several false and misleading comments about the FMPA.  Then her demanding – literally, demanding! – that fellow council members vote to keep attacking the Florida Municipal Power Agency.

The reason behind the vote was simple: The useless vote would provide Turner and Bob Solari, another of her bunkmates, with ammunition either way. Yes or no, a vote either way is used to bludgeon opponents at election time.

If “yes,” the response will be to question everything the rest of the Council does in the future that they pretend

doesn’t match with the goal of ruining FMPA.  If “no,” as was the case, the chorus of condemnation begins immediately that the Council is not trying to  out of the FMPA contracts (even though that already has proven impossible).

It’s just that kind of surreptitious spin that feeds the FPL merry-go-round.

Lange Sykes was one of the strong voices pushing for protecting our local waterways.  Turner has voted against everything associated with real progress for the Indian River Lagoon, just as Solari does.

The scientists and river-keepers were accused by the anti-environment cabal of being “liars” regarding the Oslo Boat Ramp expansion. One of those “liars” is Lange Sykes, now running for the open State House seat being vacated by the Mayfield family. And who is his biggest supporter? Pilar Turner. Who is he quoting in generous praise on all things political? Pilar Turner.

Odd bedfellows? Well, you’d certainly think so. But Matt Mohler, another FPL-All Aboard Florida flack, is Sykes’ campaign manager. The ugly lies printed daily by Glen Heran turn up verbatim in Sykes’ campaign materials. All funded by FPL.  Surprised?   You aren’t alone.

Those of us who looked for new blood, the un-purchased candidate who might actually care about the truth, who might fight for clean water and a healthy future for Indian River County, are like a New England Patriots football. Ooof.

There are other candidates, although a call to Erin Grall’s office has not been returned. She is from a lovely family, one that cares deeply about this area. It’s a good guess that she would be for lowering utility rates, as not many among us don’t want lower rates. And likely, just like those targets on the City council who don’t walk lock-step with FPL, it is not a happy place to be in the FPL cross-hairs. Perhaps she doesn’t pay homage to the Turner-Solari machine. That may be why she suffered ugly anonymous personal attacks when last she tossed her hat in the ring.

Turner herself brags of being the handmaiden for that bastion of environmental disasters, BP Oil Company. BP has not only impacted our area because the design and engineering failed in their Gulf oil units, but they have also been on the forefront of risky and untested engineering trials up in the pristine Alaskan waters.

Thus our confusion, our unease – our downright major disappointment to see Lange Sykes, someone who purports to care about the environment, tie himself to the bedposts of Turner and FPL.

Voters cannot, should not, disregard the need for truth. The truth has been made evident. Fact = We cannot sell to FPL.   Money, contracts, the very existence of the City of Vero Beach all weigh against such a move. Pretending otherwise is the new campaign bandwagon. Mr. Sykes is on board. Goodbye, Lange. We were so proud to know you. Before you realized that the money fountain that fed the Mayfields was available for the right buyer. But now? Not so much.