Mike Fasano has made no secret his dislike for Gov. Rick Scott. But now he’s taking that opposition to television.
The Charlie Crist gubernatorial campaign has released a new commercial featuring the Pasco County tax collector and former state legislator, taking a shot at Scott while publicly endorsing Crist, who Fasano calls “a good man.”
Fasano appears in front of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City, first announcing that he’s not only a lifelong Republican, but a Rick Scott appointee — Scott named Fasano the tax collector following the death of Mike Olson in 2013.
In the commercial, Fasano says he decided to voice his opinion after he saw “the smears by Rick Scott against Charlie Crist.” While he has not always seen eye-to-eye with Crist, Fasano said he was a good governor, working to prevent utility companies from overcharging, cut property taxes, and increased education spending.
“This Republican is supporting Democrat Charlie Crist,” Fasano says at the end of the 30-second ad, which can be watched here.
Fasano has not made his dislike for Scott secret. He has made a number of tweets on his Twitter account over the last several months, sharing his thoughts on the gubernatorial race with his more than 2,700 followers.
Interesting how Fl House leadership & Gov Scott continually call for open markets & competition but not when it comes to Duke Energy #sayfie
— Mike Fasano (@fasanomike) October 6, 2014
93 yr old life long GOP Pasco voter called me bc he just rec his absentee ballot and to tell me he voted for “Charlie” #PascoProud #sayfie
— Mike Fasano (@fasanomike) October 4, 2014
Rick Scott raised your property and auto insurance premiums and he will do it again if re-elected. #sayfie #forthelittleguyandgal
— Mike Fasano (@fasanomike) October 1, 2014
Suddenly Fl House GOP leadership wants to repeal nuke recovery tax via mailers to voters on behalf of candidates. Don’t believe it. #sayfie
— Mike Fasano (@fasanomike) September 29, 2014
It’s not clear what exactly created the rift between Fasano and Scott, although Fasano did reportedly lose a committee chairmanship in 2012 while still a member of the state senate. Fasano had opposed Scott and then senate president Mike Haridopolos on a plan to privatize nearly 30 prisons in the state. The measure later failed to pass the senate.
However, many legislators had issues with Scott dating back to his first year in office, with some lawmakers like Fasano publicly speaking out against the Scott agenda.
The gubernatorial race is said to be too close to call at this point, with just weeks to go before election day. The two candidates already have chalked up two debates, with a third scheduled for next week. Wednesday’s debate created some fireworks in the beginning when Scott refused to take the stage, accusing Crist of violating the debate agreement by including a small electrical fan in his podium.
