Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano is a widely known local figure.
Of course, many residents recognize his name because he’s the man in charge of collecting taxes across the county.
But he’s also widely known for using his offices to help generate support for a lengthy list of charitable causes.
Last week, his work to support animal welfare captured the spotlight when the Pasco County Commission adopted a resolution recognizing Fasano’s recent selection for the 2023 National Animal Care & Control Association’s Bill Lehman Memorial Award.
Mike Shumate, director of Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), told commissioners: “it was our pleasure to nominate Mike Fasano for this award from the National Animal Care & Control Association.”
The award is bestowed every year by the national organization to recognize “an outstanding individual not directly employed in the animal care and control field who has shown exceptional awareness and support of animal control and care related matters,” according to the resolution unanimously adopted by the Pasco County Commission during its Jan. 23 meeting.
Fasano was honored “for his hard work and compassion in animal welfare, both in the state of Florida and in Pasco County,” the resolution says.
It also goes on to provide background regarding Fasano’s lengthy history concerning safeguarding the welfare of animals.
The resolution notes that in 2012, when Fasano was a state senator, he drafted legislation seeking to create a statewide animal abuser registry. His Senate Bill 618, known as “Dexter’s Law,” failed, but it laid the groundwork for future passage of local animal abuser registries throughout the state, including one adopted in 2017 by the Pasco County Commission, the resolution says.
In 2018, Fasano endorsed a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution to ban dog racing in Florida, which was approved by 69% of the voters on Nov. 6, 2018, the resolution reports.
Beyond those achievements, Fasano “continues to be a strong supporter of animal welfare as the Pasco County tax collector.”
For instance, Fasano’s offices routinely highlight the PCAS’ Pet of the Week on their lobby televisions and share the PCAS shelter content on social media platforms, the resolution says.
Those efforts have resulted in adoptions and helped spread public awareness of shelter and animal welfare initiatives, the resolution adds.
Additionally, Fasano’s office has held fundraisers for Friends of Animal Services, with both fundraisers raising over $11,000 to support the nonprofit. The money was used to help in the purchase of medical equipment and established a medical fund to help citizens with one-time emergency medical care for their pets, according to the resolution.
In summary, the resolution notes: “Fasano exemplifies the spirit of Bill Lehman in his continual promotion and support of animal welfare organizations, his generosity in supporting nonprofit rescues and animal friend groups, and his influence in legislative efforts to improve state law and local ordinances to protect animals.”
Shumate told Fasano: “Mike, this award is for you, for all of the great things you’ve done for us. I think we feel pretty blessed to have you here in this county. You do a lot of great things for us.”
Fasano responded: “I’m going to share this with all of my staff, Greg Giordano, specifically, because Greg was with me in those legislative years.”
Besides being Fasano’s assistant tax collector, Giordano also was there for both the legislative successes, and the “almost successes,” Fasano said.
Commissioner Seth Weightman, whose office sponsored the resolution, noted Fasano’s many contributions to life in Pasco County.
Weightman praised Fasano’s work on behalf of animal welfare, but also thanked him for efforts during his time in the state Legislature, and as Pasco’s tax collector, which have helped to improve the overall quality of community life.
Weightman said that Fasano has elevated the tax collector’s office to deliver arguably “the best level in customer services in our county.” Plus, he has used the office “to capture much-needed funds and donations to support so many charities that otherwise wouldn’t have help. So, your footprint and passion and care for our county, and our state, are really unmatched,” Weightman said.
Commissioner Kathryn Starkey echoed those thoughts. She told Fasano: “Of course, you know, you’re very well-loved in this county, and we appreciate all that you do for all of the different nonprofits and our citizens in the county.”
Like his colleagues, Commissioner Jack Mariano expressed gratitude to Fasano, too.
“We greatly appreciate all of the service you do for this county — going above and beyond, helping our charities,” Mariano said.
Commission Chairman Ron Oakley put it this way: “In short, you may say that you touch every citizen in the county, in some way or another.”
Published January 31, 2024
