Predictions and Repossessions

Wilson: Gary Wheeler is on vacation this week so he missed a lot of the political intrigue,

most of it surrounding the Indian River Chamber of Commerce.

After a 6 year hiatus the Chamber seems to be back to being directly involved in County Commission politics. An informal agreement between the Chamber and Gary Wheeler that promised hands off the Commission by the Chamber seems to have expired once Gary decided not to seek reelection.

The Chamber is guaranteed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the County Commission each year for Tourism and Economic Development. There has not been a bid for the management of these functions for over 20 years.

A goodly chunk of that money finds its way into salaries, benefits and Chamber overhead. The Tourism Director, Susan Hunt, has gone to greener pastures at the Ft. Pierce Sunrise Theatre and I understand the Penny Chandler has decided to promote from within to fill her job at less money. Will that savings go back to the County or into more advertising? Fat Chance.

The recent Chamber candidate meet and greet made the changes evident. Brian Heady was not going to be included. He did not pay the $150 entry fee. Heady said no way he would come anyway and told the Chamber that they better have the police there to arrest him if they tried to keep him out of a public park. The Chamber countered with moving the event inside the Heritage Center but Heady showed up anyway and was allowed to speak. Guess someone told the Penny Chandler that it was illegal to charge candidates to speak.

The second event was when Candidate Tim Zorc reserved a seat for an economic development function involving the Chamber. He was later contacted and not allowed to attend. I am sure it is just coincidence that Zorc's general election opponent, Tony Donadio, is a Chamber Board member along with several Tea Party leaders backing Donadio over a personal business dispute between Zorc and Chuck Mechling developer of Points West. Chuck Mechling and Toby Hill are also Chamber Directors.

I am not sure I would be proud of my record if I were the leader of the Chamber in a community that has been in the top ten highest unemployed Counties in Florida every since I took over. We are now third highest.

By the way 5,400 people have already voted absentee for the August 14 election. Early voting starts Saturday. My turnout prediction 16,500.

Have to go, they are coming to repossess my Chamber plaque.

Wheeler: I may be gone but that is in body only.  Thanks to the internet, IPhones and land lines only my body is missing in action.

Rather than debate with CW this time I would like to say how disgusted I am with Bea Gardner and her latest shots at Tim Zorc in her radio ads and comments in Vero News.  It is shameless for her to point out Tim's debt and none of his assets.  Bea, this is called a Balance Sheet.  What are your ASSETS?  Of course that shows her complete ignorance about finance and the county budget she says she would be over seeing as a (GOD FORBID) County Commissioner.  This also shows her ability to distort the truth.    

I would say that Bea has run the nastiest, most negative and dirtiest campaign this year.  Her campaign basically says DON'T vote for Bea, just Vote against the other guy.  How sad.. 

My turn out prediction is 16,000.