Full Name: John F. ShupeDate of Birth: Dec. 20, 1940Place of Birth: Washington, D.C.Length of residence: Indian River County 2 years, in Vero Beach 2 yearsOccupation: RetiredFormer Employer: National Geographic Society; Chief Cartographer, director of mapsMarital status: MarriedChildren: Son, Benjamin lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife Terry; daughter Mary Kate French lives in Riverview, FL with her husband Peter.
Experience you feel is most relevant to serving in public office and why.
I have always been involved with the community where I have lived. I was president of my civic league, I was on the vestry of the Church we were members. I was a rescue squad corpsman.
Please list Civic and Volunteer Leadership Experience including title & position and Organization including dates and locations.
I was on many professional committees to numerous to mention, and the dates would be almost impossible to retrieve. I had a 33-year career at National Geographic, so I was involved in computer user groups, International Mapping Association, etc. I managed a large department and extensive budget.
Candidate Questions
1. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the City of Vero Beach?
Lack of transparency. We need to inform the citizens with complete factual information on big-ticket items like the electric utility rate issue as we move forward. We can’t go back. I feel a major mistake was made by the City Staff and City Council when the FMPA notified us in April of this year of a 1 million dollar-plus charge that had to be paid by the end of the year since our 30-year contract was ending. The mistake was entering the charge on the fuel adjustment portion of our bill. This could have been avoided. It was a transmission charge that had been overlooked by FMPA in 2008 and all the power providers in FMPA, including Vero Beach Power had to pay this charge. Much of the anger could have been avoided if this had been spelled out by the City placing a separate line on our utility bills for this particular charge, and a letter explaining the details, and making it clear that the charge would end in January. So, now we have a new 20-year contract with OUC. Is it as airtight as the 30-year contract with FMPA? Probably. Options that people are discussing may not even be possible with this contract, it needs to be out in the open.
2. The City Council will be asked to vote on implementing changes to the rate structure of the electric utility within the next few weeks. For many residents, this will mean that electric charges will be increased even more. Would you vote in favor of these rate increases?
My understanding is that this item has been moved for approval until after the November elections. Obviously, I am not in favor of more rate increases, but there is more to come on this including sending our proposal to the Public Service Commission for preliminary approval.
3. The City of Vero Beach presently takes approximately $5.9 million dollars it generates from the electric utility and puts it in the City’s general fund. Would you vote to continue the practice of this transfer each year?
In a way, I want to answer this question with a question. Will the new 20-year contract with OUC allow us to do anything different? I don’t have enough information to give an informed answer. If we have agreed to produce power for them when they demand and receive payment for the electricity generated the money will probably continue to go into the Electric Fund and then, after expenses, the remainder sent to the General Fund. We can discuss this when we meet.
4. City Administrators have stated that stepping away from the Florida Municipal Power Agency and joining the Orlando Utility Authority will drastically lower electric rates starting in January. Do you believe that the electric utility rates will significantly be reduced after January 1, 2010?
I will not make a prediction with so many variables that could affect utility prices in the future. For example, OUC has a number of Coal-Fired plants in their group. Consider the passing of Cap and Trade legislation in the Senate…it’s already passed in the House. This “carbon tax” will hit coal pants the hardest. The extra tax will be a pass thru to customers [us]. Recently FPL upgraded one of their Nuclear Plants to the tune of 67 million dollars…and the upgrade will passed thru in rate adjustments to their customers. My point is that regardless of who will be our power provider I don’t see a horizon where things will get cheaper. Paying our tab to FMPA will go away as mentioned earlier. Many are calling for selling our utility….even this could lead to higher costs. Surely whoever would purchase the operation would pass thru their purchase price to us with higher rates.
5. What suggestions would you make to the City to curtail spending without hurting the present services the City residents currently enjoy?
I think we have been cut to a bare-bones status now with our budget cuts. I would stay the course and see how we do before recommending taking away a service. My approach will be to give careful consideration to each and every spending request, keeping our expenditures down. The presentations of City Budgets should be restructured to isolate and identify the largest expenditures: Salary, Operating Expenses, Benefits, Retirement Fund, etc. Presently each department gives their respective budget, but the big-ticket items don’t stand out.
6. What do feel the City should do with the property on the corner of 17th street and Indian River Blvd. where the former postal annex was located?
I don’t have a specific suggestion. The economic climate at present is not the best to attract business development on that site, but I understand a developer was interested and has since pulled out. Just blocks away the area around Miracle Mile Mall is coming alive with development. I like that approach, rather than businesses being strung out along a major highway. I guess the City should just hold the property until such time the commercial real estate market comes to life.
7. Do you or would you rely more on your own independent research or would you rely more heavily on public opinion of City staff before deciding on your vote on a particular issue?
I would always do my own homework on issues, but welcome input from staff.
8. The City has brought up the idea of forming an independent Health Clinic for City employees. Would you vote for this initiative? (Please answer Yes or No).
No. Not the way it is being presented. My way of thinking there was one critical word in the presentation to Council that would have made me vote against it -“Voluntary.” How could anyone staff a facility with doctors, nurses, receptionists, and stock a pharmacy with an unknown universe of users. Three people could show up, or thirty, on a given day. That subject needs much more debate before a rational decision could be made.
9. If you could change one thing about how the City is run, what would it be?
Transparency. Every City Council meeting should provide the public with copies of what issues are being discussed. It is awkward for citizens to sit in the gallery and not be able to follow along with copy what is being discussed. Considering the poor attendance at Council Meetings I would modify the 3-minute rule…only imposing it when there is a large audience.
10. Why do you want to run for the Vero Beach City Council?
First, I am retired and have the time to dedicate to the position. I have always been interested in civic duty and interest in the well-being of my community. Vero Beach is no exception. I also think I can provide sound judgment when voting on issues. Knowledge of an issue is only part of the task, judgment is essential. I had a fruitful 33-year career with National Geographic, managed a large staff, and considerable budget. I have the background to take on issues from simple to complex and feel I am well suited to be on the City Council. There is also the consideration that I just plain love the City of Vero Beach and want to be a part of improving life for residents and businesses.
