Former state Sen. Mike Fasano, who is now the Pasco County Tax Collector, has endorsed former Gov. Charlie Crist in his run for the Congressional District 13 seat.
News of the endorsement came the same day that Fasano, a Republican, was featured in a robocall supporting Crist’s candidacy. Crist, a Democrat, is running against Republican incumbent David Jolly.
In the robocall, Fasano says, “Hi, I’m Mike Fasano. I’m a lifelong Republican, and I’m supporting Charlie Crist for Congress. Before you cast your vote, there are a few things you oughtta know.
“As governor, Charlie worked with both parties to get things done, like lowering your sky-high property taxes. Charlie will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare as we know it; David Jolly wants to privatize it and hand it to Wall Street.
“Charlie Crist took on the big utility companies for overcharging us; David Jolly got $350,000 from Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light last week alone. Charlie will protect Pinellas beaches and our tourism business; Jolly wants to expand oil drilling in the Gulf. Charlie Crist will protect our veterans; David Jolly wants to privatize and dismantle the VA. Charlie needs your vote.”
A scheduling issue prevented Fasano from appearing with Crist during a campaign stop early Friday afternoon at Solar Source, a Largo company that does solar and electrical installations and general contracting. But representatives from both the national and local offices of the Sierra Club were at the tour.
Wayne Wallace, the founder of Solar Source, said Crist was the first Florida governor to install solar power while in office. Solar Source, he said, installed a solar swimming pool heater in the Governor’s Mansion.
“I call him a pro-solar man,” Wallace said. “He is not beholden to the fossil fuel interests, which most politicians are.”
Crist said that, while on the campaign trail, he has heard from voters who are “very frustrated with the utility companies.”
Many of the complaints, he said, center on cost. Using himself as an example, Crist said his July electric bill was about $300. The next month, it was more than $500.
“It’s horrific,” Crist said. “If we did more [solar] rather than whatever Duke does, which is gouge us” people would have more disposable income to use for their families.
Later, Crist said, “We have such an obvious and clear answer to solving the stranglehold” of the utility companies. “It’s the sun. … We need to highlight what this company, what anyone’s doing in this industry to harness God’s power.”
Early voting ends Sunday. The election is Tuesday.
