COMMENTARY
“At the core of Howle’s campaign, beyond all of his rhetoric about cutting spending, was his promise to sell Vero Electric to FPL. At this point, I have only one prediction for 2017. If Howle should seek re-election, he will need the public’s forgiveness for at least one broken promise.”
MARK SCHUMANN
By a margin of 1.2 percent, Vero Beach voters yesterday elected challenger Harry Howle III over incumbent Amelia Graves.
Howle ran on a five-point plan to sell Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light. In getting his message across to voters, Howle used post cards mailers quite effectively. He launched at least two waves of robocalls, and peppered the community with campaign signs. Howle was also aided by two partisan attack mailers paid for by Citizens Alliance for Florida’s Economy, a Tampa-based political action committee. Howle lead Graves in fundraising, bringing in $17,250 compared to $9,390 for Graves.
In an off-year election in which only 21 percent of Vero Beach’s eligible voters participated, incumbent Richard Winger received 1,178 votes, Howle 1,074, Graves 1,024. Laura Moss and Brian Heady came in fourth and fifth in the voting, with 948 votes and 348 votes respectively.
Howle also promised to restore fiscal responsibility to City Hall and to halt the the growth of City government. He was harshly critical of the recently approved 17 percent increase in the City’s property taxes.
Throughout the campaign, Howle attacked Winger and Graves for the recently approved 2015/16 budget, though he never laid out a specific plan for cutting expenses, or for avoiding a tax increase. The fact that the City will bring in less in property tax revenue in 2015 that it did in 2007, or that the City’s employee count is 25 percent below where it peaked in 2009, or that Vero Beach has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, did not resonate with voters nearly as much as Howle’s Tea Party rhetoric about the evils of big government.
Councilwoman Pilar Turner endorsed Howle, held a fundraising event for him, campaigned with him, and placed roobo calls on his behalf. Howle will likely join Turner on many votes, expanding her one-person minority on the Council to two.
Howle and Turner both opposed the recently revised wholesale power agreement with the Orlando Utilities Commission. Though the new terms give Vero Beach lower electric rates and a shortened contract commitment, the strongest proponents of the stalled sale to FPL continue to characterize the revised agreement as a bad deal for the customers of Vero Electric.
As chairman of the Code Enforcement Board, Howle recently voted in favor of a boarding house operator. Turner recently voted in favor of a short term rental operator in a code violation case appealed to the City Council.
Ironically, barrier islanders, who stand the most to loose from the consequences of a new Tea Party/Developer controlled Council majority, gave Howle his margin of victory over Graves. In Precinct 17 alone, Howle lead Graves by 201 votes. Whatever fret barrier islanders may have over the recent tax increase, or even over electric rates, those numbers will pale in comparison to the loss in property values that could result from a new Council majority’s failure to defend and enforce the City’s ban on short-term rentals.
As a group, barrier islanders resonated with Howle’s Tea Party rhetoric and with promises to somehow magically sell Vero Electric to FPL. Not only did Howle do better than Graves on the island, he led Winger there as well. Even fellow challenger Laura Moss received more barrier island votes than did Winger. Like Graves, Winger’s biggest support came from the mainland. Unfortunately for Graves, mainland turnout was too low to make up for Howle’s strong support on the island.
At the core of Howle’s campaign, beyond all of his rhetoric about cutting spending, was his promise to sell Vero Electric to FPL. At this point, I have only one prediction for 2017. If Howle should seek re-election, he will need the public’s forgiveness for at least one broken promise.
Indian River Guardian 
FPL is not walking away from the existing sweet heart contract. In lieu of a sale within the next two years. FPL will be more then happy with a long term contract extension. Mr. Howle, Mrs Turner, who will be the third to jump on board.
I’m sure Harry, Pilar and whoever they home will join them on Council next fill would give FPL just about anything they want. Given that the existing contract was approved by voters, I wonder if the Council has the authority to extend the expiration date, or in other ways to alter the terms of the agreement.
We City folks are already facing two lawsuits – one from Indian River Shores and the other from ourselves. Yes, since we are part of Indian River County, and our County Commissioners have chosen to sue the City, WE the residents are paying to sue ourselves. The rest of the County is also footing the bill. As a matter of fact, Indian River Shores, being part of the County, also has to fork over a few dollars from County. What a blessed mess, and Mr. Howle will be wanting to sue FMPA? I’m sure someone with talent could come up with “Lawsuit” round….
“Harry’s 5 Point Plan” is strong evidence that Harry doesn’t have a clue.
And how about the voters who supported him, and those who did not even bother to vote?
Harry can’t make the FPL sale happen and he will not be able to stop the train . Untill he and Turner tell the taxpayers of Vero how THEY will lower our taxes they have no credibility.
Except among those who voted for them.
The vote, even though it was a disgustingly low shows that the good people of the City also want a change. Graves goes out without keeping her promise to sell the electric company, and having the
cutest, pixiest election poster in the race. I wish her the best of luck, the voters made their decision. Yes Mark, the next election will in fact alter playing field and properly deal with the “electric” situation. It is a joke and an embarrassment to have signed another contract with the same people that “screwed” the city in the first place! Wow, $2.50 a month in savings, can’t anyone do the math?
Well I am thankful that Howle got in, he is a good man, bright and will prove to be an asset to the beautiful city of Vero Beach!
Larry,
I posted the following comment on Bea-Isms this morning. It was addressed to a fellow commenter named Jim, or at least that is the name he uses online.
After a good night’s sleep, I wrote out these thoughts this morning, and am willing to post them now, because I believe them to be true.
Jim,
What is your take on why in Precinct 17 Harry Howle and Laura Moss both won, not only over Amelia Graves, bust also over Richard Winger? I am perplexed, and deeply disappointed by a vote that indicates a majority of barrier islanders actually believe Moss, (never mind for now Harry Howle), would make a better council member than Winger or Graves have been.
Through Richard’s personal engagement in initiating and participating in the negotiations with the OUC, he is largely responsible for the city’s being able to reach better terms. (This is not to take away from all the skillful negotiating and all the hard work done by Schef Wright.) The revised agreement is good for the city and good for the customers of Vero Electric. How Turner, Howle and Moss could justify opposing it is beyond me.
Winger is leading the discussion on how best to move forward with doing what the city can to address the Lagoon crisis.
Along with the other council members, Winger voted to restructure the city’s pension obligations, and in other ways has helped to shore up the city’s finances. Unlike many wealthy barrier islanders, who pay their domestic help in cash in order to avoid paying SS taxes, the city is doing right by its employees in funding a pension plan.
Short of drawing on reserves, the recent tax increase was absolutely necessary. If the city is to meet its obligations and maintain the quality of municipal services people have come to expect and continue to say the want, then the residents of the city need to be willing to pay the taxes necessary to support their municipal government.
Even with the tax increase, the wealthy barrier islanders are left paying one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, while enjoying the benefits of living in one of the most beautiful cities in the state, with some of the most enviable amenities. Those amenities include the Vero Beach Museum of Art and the Riverside Theatre, both located on land leased from the city for $1 per year. The barrier islanders also benefit from the city’s well-maintained parks and beaches, clean streets, excellent police protection, and reliable electric service soon to be available at rates within the statewide average, a water and sewer utility, and certainly better solid waste service than is offered in the county.
Despite all of these benefits and advantages, the vote Tuesday suggests that, as a group, barrier islanders are discontent. What gives?
As Bea suggested, what is happening in Vero Beach is indicative of larger national trends. What I see in the results of Vero Beach most recent municipal election is frustration turned into indifference among middle class mainlanders, and selfishness, greed and fear among barrier islanders, at least among those who voted for Howle and Moss. (the fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain.)
At the risk of mixing politics and religion, let me say that if you read all four of the Christian gospels closely, you will see that Jesus had more to say about money than any other subject. Why? Because having money, or longing for more it, can take such a powerful hold on us.
I believe the core of our nation’s problems, and in a similar way, the city’s problems, are not economic or political, but spiritual, for they have to do with our relationship with money and with each other.
When I served as a minister at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta in the late 1980s, I remember the senior minister, Dr. Frank Harrington, telling me stewardship season was one of his favorite times of the year. Why? Because it gave him an opportunity to engage his parishioners on a vital spiritual matter – their relations to money.
Vero Beach is blessed to have many residents of great wealth, many of whom are profoundly generous, socially conscious and civically engaged. Unfortunately, others of them, perhaps the majority, appear for now to be self-absorbed, and thus susceptible to the Tea Party’s message of fear, divisiveness and blame.
Rejection of reality and denial of facts seem to be widespread in the electorate. Add an inability to perceive the inherent contradiction in deeply held beliefs. None of Howle’s 5 points are realistically achievable. In fact most are completely outside the powers of the City. But more significant is the inherent contradiction between selling the utility and lowering taxes. As the electric utility has been transferring a “profit” annually to underwrite the City’s tax rates (arguably at unsustainable levels) the elimination of that subsidy will inevitably require higher taxes to maintain present levels of service. One can pout and shout to no avail. One can’t achieve lower taxes by eliminating a revenue stream.
But, as see in the current GOP circus, facts simply don’t matter.
Bob Swift
Harry Howle in particular has over stated what he will achieve or accomplish. No matter what he says he CANNOT stop All Aboard Florida. He CANNOT overturn Supreme Court rulings on electric contracts. He CANNOT make our state legislature bend to his will. Debbie Mayfield was a complete failure at this effort. Due to long standing binding contracts Vero Electric will be in business for many years into the future. If Howle votes for a partial sale to IRS, he must realize he will be voting for huge tax increases for all city residents.
In addition to higher taxes for city residents, including those on the barrier island who so strongly supported Howle, a partial sale will lead to higher electric rates for all the remaining customers of Vero Electricl. I wonder if those remaining customers would have standing in taking legal action to block a partial sale that would surely impact them negatively.
The election defeat of Amelia Graves had more to do with being a Democrat than anything done by FP&L. The Indian River Democrat Party has done everything possible to destroy its credibility.
This sounds like inside baseball, Pat. Did you not get your way on something?
Mark, The only sure thing out of all of this is that your pictures get better and better. They are honest and remind me of the fine works of Edward Weston! Ansel was a friend of mine, but what you saw was not always what was there! Weston was a purest and exceptional as a pioneer and artist. No one can ever be a “Weston” but I can’t wait to see your work a year from now, it should be on par!
Larry, There is one other sure thing. I will always consider you a friend; and I will always respect and be grateful to you for your commitment to interfaith dialogue.
Yes I got my way because we no longer have a legal resident of Washington, D. C. pretending to be a Florida resident. In the process the State of Florida validated all of my allegations. We now need for the Florida legislature to augment out voting laws so that no one in the future might be inclined t0 use the same scheme