VERO BEACH — High electric bills have provided the spark to this year’s election, with some candidates contending a contract with a new power provider will bring relief and others suggesting the city look at getting out of the electric business.

Incumbents Bill Fish and Debra Fromang are being challenged by five people looking to gain two-year terms on the five-member council.

The challengers include former City Council member Ken Daige; frequent council critic Brian Heady; retired National Geographic Society Chief Cartographer Jack Shupe; downtown businesswoman Susan Viviano; and local businessman and political commentator Charlie Wilson.
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Monday is the deadline for Stuart residents to register to vote in the Nov. 3 municipal election.

About 1,100 ballots already have been mailed out for the non-partisan election between City Commissioner Jeffrey Krauskopf and Jeff Callahan, a Martin County lifeguard, said Martin County Supervisor of Elections Vicki Davis.

Early voting will be held from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31 at the Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office, 135 S.E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Stuart.

For information, call the elections office at (772) 288-5637.

PORT ST. LUCIE — City property owners may be able to avoid a proposed 26 percent increase in their property taxes.

During a special meeting Wednesday, the City Council unanimously agreed to use half of the city’s general fund reserves to keep the property tax rate at its current rate of $4.22 per $1,000 of taxable value. The council will formally vote on setting the property tax rate during scheduled 7 p.m. public hearings Sept. 14 and Sept. 28 at City Hall.

Using the city’s median home price of $112,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption, an average city property tax bill using the current rate would be $261, excluding taxes from other agencies, such as the school and fire districts.
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The Florida Elections Commission on Tuesday appealed a judge’s decision finding Martin County Commissioner Susan Valliere and her husband, Jim, guilty of just three out of more than 100 counts of campaign finance violations.

State administrative law judge Robert Meale in July found Susan Valliere guilty of two violations and Jim Valliere of one violation stemming from Susan Valliere’s 2006 primary re-election campaign.

Meale, who ordered the Vallieres to pay a total of $3,000 in fines, found them not guilty of 108 other counts filed by state elections officials, who alleged that the couple had coordinated campaign activities and violated campaign contribution limits.