Moss, Sykes and Wells receive nearly all of their $63,350 in contributions from Indian River Shores residents

“Moss, Sykes and Wells have pledged to side with the Shores and FPL in their negotiations to buy Vero Electric Shores customers for $30 million. Gorry, Old and Young have all said they also support the sale, but are unwilling to sell for less $47 million. A team of five independent utility experts hired by the City, concluded it will take $47 million to partition and downsize Vero Electric without the move hurting the remaining customers.”

MARK SCHUMANN

Campaign finance reports covering the period of Oct. 22 through Nov. 3 reveal that another $14,000 in contributions from Indian River Shores residents and other outside interests have been received by Vero Beach City Council candidates Laura Moss, Lange Sykes and Norman Wells.

Since Moss, Sykes and Wells were introduced by Shores Mayor Brian Barefoot as being members of what he called, “the Shores Team,” the three Vero Beach City Council candidates have raised $63,350 in campaign contributions, nearly all coming from Shores residents.  Moss, Sykes and Wells are also supported by a political action committee that has raised $106,000 from Shores residents and from Florida Power and Light.

In the most recent reporting period, Moss received $8450 in contributions, all of it from interests outside Vero Beach, mostly from John’s Island residents. Wells received $3350 in contributions during the same reporting period, and Sykes $3250. Moss, Sykes and Wells listed all of her Shores contributors with Vero Beach addresses, though they are listed with the Indian River County Property Appraisers Office as Indian River Shores addresses.

Three other candidates running for the Vero Beach City Council, Sharon Gorry, incumbent Randy Old, and Tony Young, have reported a total of $60,395 in campaign contributions: Gorry – $7531; Old – $33,994; Young – 18870.

Moss, Sykes and Wells have pledged to side with the Shores and FPL in their negotiations to buy Vero Electric Shores customers for $30 million. Gorry, Old and Young have all said they also support the sale, but are unwilling to sell for less $47 million. A team of five independent utility experts hired by the City, concluded it will take $47 million to partition and downsize Vero Electric without the move hurting the remaining customers.

Below is an itemized list of contributions reported by Moss, Sykes and Wells from Oct. 22 to Nov. 3.