COMMENTARY

“How the Press Journal’s editorial board could not then conclude Councilwoman Amelia Graves also deserves endorsement is difficult to comprehend. Graves already has two years of service and experience on the City Council. During that time she has consistently asked the right questions, raised the right issues, keep her cool, stayed on point, and most importantly, has cast some courageous votes.”

“Reisman went on to quote Silagy as suggesting the solution for enabling his company to expand its customer base by acquiring municipal utilities may include legislation or litigation, or even for Vero Electric to declare bankruptcy, at which point Silagy was left sounding about as reasonable and connected to reality as Brian Heady.”

MARK SCHUMANN

As I began reading the Press Journal’s Vero Beach City Council endorsement editorial this morning, I first thought, “Hell hath frozen over,” or as a friend suggested, perhaps Gannett hath already taken over.  The newspaper’s editorial board finally acknowledged Mayor Richard Winger as the informed, reasonable, responsible, dedicated, and hard working public servant he is. What a surprise!

Equally surprising was the board’s willingness to be brutally honest about the weaknesses of candidates Laura Moss, Brian Heady and Harry Howle.

Heady is now seeking public office for the 18th time.  Enough is enough, especially from someone who continually fails to offer practical solutions to real and present challenges.

Moss, as the Press Journal editorial acknowledged, is uninformed and unprepared.  As I suggested last week, she and Howle are both “day-two” candidates. They will clearly not be prepared to govern on day one.

Another of Howle’s weaknesses is that he falls in the same category of former councilwoman Tracy Carroll. He does not work well with others.  As they say, the most dangerous person in the room is the one who does not know what he does not know.

How the Press Journal’s editorial board could not then conclude Councilwoman Amelia Graves also deserves endorsement is difficult to comprehend. Graves already has two years of service and experience on the City Council. During that time she has consistently asked the right questions, raised the right issues, keep her cool, stayed on point, and most importantly, has cast some courageous votes.

Not surprising, in the Press Journal’s editorial this morning there appeared the newspaper’s oft-repeated claim that Florida Power & Light’s rates are “30 percent or so cheaper” than Vero Electric’s.

In a scene from the movie, “All the Presidents’ Men,” informant “Deep Throat” said to Washington Post Reporter, Bob Woodward, “I hate the press, because I hate laziness and inexactitude.”

The Press Journal’s description of the rate differential as “some 30 percent” is an example of the inexactitude “Deep Throat” saw as such a disservice to the news consuming public.

Press Journal pundit, Larry Reisman, further exaggerated the rate differential in his opinion column, claiming it to be 31 percent. Based on his column, it would appear Reisman is still aglow after having met this week with FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. Nowhere in his column did Reisman reveal to his readers that the wife of the Press Journal’s publisher is a vice president with FPL, and a key player in the company’s now failed effort to acquire Vero Electric.

Based on the most recent bill comparisons, the rate differential is 23.5 percent. After the OUC contract goes into effect, the rate differential, before accounting for a six percent franchise fee, will be 21.9 percent. Factoring in a 6 percent franchise fee, the rate differential in November will be 17.6 percent.

Vero Electric customers in the unincorporated areas of Indian River County pay a 6 percent franchise fee, which is forwarded to the County. If FPL were to begin service to the customers of Vero Electric located within the city limits, those customers would pay a six percent franchise fee that would be forwarded by FPL to the City.

The bottom line on the Press Journal’s inexactitude is that “30 percent or so,” is not even close to 18.9 percent or 17.6 percent.

Reisman went on to quote Silagy as suggesting the solution for enabling his company to expand its customer base by acquiring municipal utilities may include legislation or litigation, or even for Vero Electric to declare bankruptcy, at which point Silagy was left sounding about as reasonable and connected to reality as Brian Heady.

After reading Reisman’s column, it was clear Gannett has yet to begin calling the shots at the Press Journal.

Well, at least the glass is half full. After four years, the newspaper’s editorial board has finally come around to seeing Mayor Richard Winger for who he is, an exceptionally dedicated and competent public servant.