Editor’s note: Charlie Wilson, a man clearly unacquainted with the truth, emailed me a post card this morning which continues to falsely claim Amelia Graves, Jay Kramer and Richard Winger voted to reject FPL’s proposed $26 million surcharge on the customers of Vero Electric. The post has Wilson’s fingerprints all over it, though not his name. Much of what Wilson writes goes unsigned.

Wilson, the master of smear campaigns, continues to perpetuate his big lie, for in truth Graves, Kramer and Winger voted to refer FPL’s proposal to the Utilites and Finance Commission for review. Before the Commissions could act, the agreement between  FPL and the FMPA fell apart, and the OUC subsequently backed out of the deal. Earlier this morning, at 12:35 a.m., Wilson sent me the following note, “Don’t you ever get tired of talking to yourself? Nobody trusts or cares what you think or write. Have a nice life.” With Charlie Wilson around, who needs Donald Trump.

COMMENTARY

“Clearly, the deal did not fall apart because Graves, Kramer and Winger exercised due diligence in referring FPL’s proposal to the Utilities and Finance Commissions. The power sale unraveled when the OUC, the only interested buyer for Vero Beach’s position in three FMPA power projects, walked away from the deal.”

MARK SCHUMANN

Though Charlie Wilson is largely a spent force, he does still appear before the City Council regularly, always spinning the truth, while spewing venom.

This past Tuesday, Wilson was again repeating his addlebrained assertion that the City Council prevented the sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light. Like much of what rolls off Wilson’s silver tongue, the claim is simply untrue.

“You got a fair price, and you rejected it,” Wilson said.

“That’s not true. We did not reject the contract,” countered Councilman Richard Winger.

Wilson shot back, “The vote was 3-2, and you were the decisive vote, Mr. Winger.”

“It’s not so,” Winger said.

Wilson: “The fact is you prevented the sale of Vero Electric.”

Winger: “That’s not true.”

A little history helps put in perspective this week’s exchange between Wilson and Winger.

In February of 2014, FPL officials announced they had reached an agreement with representatives of the Florida Municipal Power Agency enabling the sale to go forward. There were, however, two problems with the deal. First, it would have required the customers of Vero Electric to pay a $26 million surcharge over 3 years. That substantial change in the sales contract would surely have required yet another referendum. Second, as the specifics of the deal emerged, it became clear FMPA officials and FPL representatives had not reached agreement.

From the FMPA’s perspective, the $52 million – $26 million to be paid by FPL and $26 million by the customers of Vero Electric — was to compensate the agency for assuming Vero Beach’s power entitlements for three years. FPL spokespersons insisted the $52 million should satisfy all of Vero Beach’s obligation to the FMPA, including contingent liabilities. Those obligations FPL steadfastly refused to assume.

Understandably, before obligating the customers of Vero Electric to pay $26 million to help fund the power sale, a City Council member might want the proposal to first be reviewed and considered by the Utilities and Finance Commissions. That is exactly the position Amelia Graves, Jay Kramer and Richard Winger took, when they voted 3-2 against Pilar Turner and Craig Fletcher to refer FPL’s proposal to the relevant commissions.

Before the proposal could be vetted, though, FMPA leaders, frustrated with FPL President and C.E.O., Eric Silagy, withdrew their offer. Subsequently, leaders of the Orlando Utilities Commission announced they, too, could not be a party to the proposed deal, as it would violate the OUC’s existing bond covenants. Now, two years later, FPL officials have yet to present an alternative plan for completing the sale.

Clearly, the deal did not fall apart because Graves, Kramer and Winger exercised due diligence in referring FPL’s proposal to the Utilities and Finance Commissions. The power sale unraveled when the OUC, the only interested buyer for Vero Beach’s position in three FMPA power projects, walked away from the deal.

Wilson will continue to repeat the lie that Graves, Kramer and Winger “rejected” a fair price; and people given to believing what they want to believe will accept his lies as truth.

Regardless of what Wilson and his kind think, it is not the case that a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth. So, here’s to Richard Winger, who is standing up for the truth and for the people of Vero Beach.

Since the sale stalled, Winger, along with Mayor Jay Kramer and Vice Mayor Randy Old have made significant progress in lowering rates. Over Turner’s objections, they negotiated a revised contract with the OUC that will save Vero Electric’s customers some $170 million. They have also closed the City’s power plant, a move that will save another several million dollars a year. Further, Kramer, Old and Winger, without support from Turner, are taking steps to revise Vero Electric’s rate structure, and to run the utility more efficiently.

Negative people like Wilson accomplish little more than to draw attention to themselves. In contrast, leaders like Winger address challenges, solve problems and are able to make a positive and lasting difference in their communities.