I Heard It Through the Grape Vine.

February 24, 2011

I was informed this evening that there continue to be people in Winter Park who disparage me personally, apparently because they disagree with my political positions. Ah, Winter Park, where character assassination is the political practice of choice.

It seems some in Winter Park consider me a “nut job” and a rumor spread about me three years ago has resurfaced. Did you know that I was “a trust fund baby whose family paid him not to be involved in their family business?” Funny, neither did I.

The lack of character and quality of such people continues to motivate me because the Winter Park I know and promote is filled with thoughtful citizens who value common sense, critical thinking, respectful debate, and who work to preserve the best attributes of our city.

So, if you hear any characterizations or critical comments about me or anyone else that sound suspect please drop me an email with the details at peter.weldon@gmail.com or call me (407) 212-7850.

This gives me the opportunity to share a message I wrote three years ago below for those who value the facts.

We are all wise to verify what we are told.

Regards, Pete Weldon

PS – Charlie never contacted me.

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January 7, 2008

TO: Charlie Rosenfelt
1812 Stonehurst Drive
Winter Park, FL 32789

Dear Charlie,

First of all, Happy New Year to you and your family. I was glad to have the opportunity to talk with you at the recent Winter Park Historical Society Holiday party.

I am writing because Butch Slaughter approached me after a presentation I made recently and asked about my background.  Butch expressed surprise at my response to his questions. When I asked him why he was surprised Butch said he had a conversation with a friend who had  told him I was “a trust fund baby whose family paid him not to be involved in their business.”

As you might imagine I was concerned about this comment and pressed Butch to tell me who made that statement. After much hesitation he told me it was you Charlie.

Now, I know you to be a long term, respected, and influential resident of the Winter Park community. I therefore assume you did not know this statement was a lie and you had been led to believe this by someone else.

For the record, here are the facts:

• I am not nor have I ever been the beneficiary of any trust fund.
• My family has never paid me not to do anything.

Further:

• I was awarded a full merit tuition scholarship my second year at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business.
• I earned the responsibility of Chief Financial Officer of a Johnson & Johnson operating company at age 31. I believe I am the youngest CFO of any free standing operating company in the history of this 50 billion dollar multi-national corporation.
• Fran and I live in Winter Park because we made a commitment to bring up our family here. This commitment dictated my pursuit of a second career as an investment advisor.
• I earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1997 and have successfully managed a pool of investment funds.

This success, not any relationship with my family, affords me the time and resources to offer myself for public service and to fulfill the commitment I have made to serve our City.

Charlie, I am sure you will agree that our community needs to engage in responsible debate on the issues and to demonstrate respect for those who stand up to express their views and offer themselves for public service. Toward this end I ask you to meet with me to discuss the source of these lies and to find common ground to work together. Let’s you and I demonstrate to the people of Winter Park that those on opposite sides of a political issue can add value to the process by publicly debating the issues instead of lying about those they presume to be political opposition.

Charlie, it is time for constructive change in the political discourse in Winter Park and I ask for your help to make that change happen. I look forward to meeting with you.

Yours Truly, Pete Weldon

700 Via Lombardy

Winter Park, FL 32789