VERO BEACH – Former Vero Beach Councilman Charlie Wilson has announced his intentions to run for a seat at the dais again – this time, though, his sights are on the Mayor’s seat.
That seat is currently held by Richard Winger and is not elected by voters. Instead, the Mayor’s seat is filled by a vote amongst the Council members.
The following is Wilson’s announcement dated June 6:
“Get Over It.” That’s their plan?
“Get Over It” was touted this week as the new plan by a Vero City Council majority including Councilmember Jay Kramer. The partial sale touted for years by Kramer was also said to be dead and never really possible.
Speaking for the Council majority Mayor Richard Winger said, “I (Winger) will oppose an effort by Indian River Shores and Indian River County to leave Vero Electric.”
“I would be totally against spending the public’s money on lawsuits…. It’s dead. Get over it.” He told the Men’s Republican Club.
Attendees at the meeting accurately reported that after Winger concluded, pro-sale utility activist Charlie Wilson stood up to challenge the mayor.
“Get over it? That’s your plan?” Wilson asked.
Well “Get Over It” is just not good enough for me or the people of Vero Beach.
Voters were assured that the sale of Vero Electric was a “Done Deal” before the election. Now, just 5 months later we have gone from a “Done Deal” to a “Dead Deal” and told to “Get Over It.”
Really? That’s the answer to our paying more than $20 million dollars a year in higher electric rates? “Get Over It!” Not Me!
Recent events have made it perfectly clear that the current City Council majority of Kramer, Winger and Graves have killed any chance of achieving a negotiated sale of Vero Electric. With negotiations stalled we are left with only two options, either to just accept our fate and continue to pay much higher rates than our neighbors or to aggressively seek relief through the public service commission and the courts.
Councilman Jay Kramer is the only one of the anti-sale council members up for election. Councilman Kramer supports the FMPA, I chose to Stand Up for Vero Beach.
Without a change on the City Council the deal may be dead so I have decided to run for Vero Beach City Council to replace Jay Kramer and get us back on the path to getting out from under the thumb of FMPA and get lower rates. More than that, I have decided to run for Mayor of Vero Beach so that I may lead the charge at the FMPA and the other cities who make up the FMPA.
I have filed the paperwork required to seek office. At the next city council meeting scheduled for June 17, I will ask for a vote to join Indian River Shores and Indian River County to explore our legal and regulatory options. The citizens of Vero Beach need to know which Council members are willing to stand up for them and which council members are going to represent FMPA and tell us to “Get Over It.”
There are many issues facing the city. Together we will work to stop the train, we will do whatever is necessary to protect our lagoon, we will not participate in 7/50 and we will protect that unique quality of life that “Keeps Vero, Vero.” In addition to all of these important things everyone knows where I stand on the electric issue and I will never give up until Vero Beach residents get relief from the FMPA.
I started the effort to sell Vero Electric and invited FP&L to become our ally. Return Charlie Wilson to the City Council and I will finish the job.
“Get Over It?” Not a chance!