Mike Fasano has resigned from the Pasco GOP executive committee, eight days after local Republicans filed a second grievance against him with the state party over his support of independent Gov. Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate race.
Fasano, a New Port Richey Republican, said Tuesday that the two events are unrelated: He said he knew nothing about the July 21 complaint filed by leaders of the Republican Executive Committee until a reporter told him.
That complaint alleges Fasano’s support of Crist violates the state and local parties’ constitutions, which say the GOP’s objective is to promote Republican candidates.
Fasano said he resigned only because he rarely attended the local meetings and has no use for Pasco GOP leaders Randy Maggard and Bill Bunting.
“I don’t want to be a member of the (Pasco Republican) Executive Committee because of the dictatorial leadership with Mr. Bunting and Mr. Maggard,” Fasano said.
But Pasco GOP leaders noted the timing of Fasano’s resignation and say it was purely a strategic move to avoid what might have been an embarrassing grievance hearing for a sitting senator.
They say the state party had scheduled a hearing date — Aug. 21 — and even reserved a hotel conference room in Port Richey for the hearing. Continue reading here.
