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Hernando Today

State Senate Seat Pits Veteran Against Newcomer

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By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - If re-elected on Nov. 4, state Sen. Mike Fasano would serve his last term.

The Republican from New Port Richey has already spent six years in the Senate.

That's enough, contends Fred Taylor, a 60-year-old business broker from New Port Richey and Fasano's Democratic challenger for the District 11 seat.

Fasano, who has worked up to the powerful position of majority whip, has had plenty of time to address the state's problems, Taylor says.

He's trying to convince voters that since those problems don't seem to be getting better, it's time for a change.

"If it hasn't been done, whom should we blame?" he said.

Fasano, 50, scoffs at the notion the Legislature hasn't made headway in areas such as property insurance reform.

He acknowledges there is still work to do, and that he's the experienced lawmaker to make it happen.

"You want someone who understands the process and gets right in the middle of it to get things done," he said.

Here's where the two men stand on some of the issues:

Education

Fasano says the state needs to reduce the number of mandates on school districts and increase the number of vocational programs to accommodate students who don't want to go college.

Taylor said he would channel his efforts to direct more lottery money to education coffers. Both men say they agree that the state should allow Indian tribes to expand gambling and strike a deal so revenue can come to education coffers.

Property insurance

Fasano had a leading role in property insurance reform last year. The resulting bill allowed homeowners to opt out of sinkhole coverage, among other changes.

"We did many things, but we still have a crisis in our state," Fasano said.

He said he would try again to prevent insurance companies from writing most policies while refusing to cover wind damage, a practice called cherry-picking. Taylor says he wonders how aggressive Fasano can be since he has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from insurance companies. It's a charge Fasano responds to by pointing to his record.

Taylor wants Citizens, the state's insurer of last resort, to get out of the business of covering theft and fire policies and focus just on major storm damage policies. That, he says, would lower risk for other insurance companies and make them more willing to cover minor storm damage.

Property taxes

The Legislature made progress here, Fasano contends, by forcing cities and counties to lower millage rates and cut spending. But he said lawmakers need to help business owners by dropping the cap on commercial, nonhomesteaded properties from 10 percent to a maximum of 5 percent.

Taylor agreed that property tax bill had some effect but said he was leery of the state trying to meddle further in what should be left to localities.

The tight budget and economic development

Fasano admits the Legislature - including Fasano himself - is to blame for "spending non-recurring dollars on recurring things." That lesson has been learned the hard way, he says, and Florida citizens can expect a more disciplined approach to the budget process as lawmakers look to make up a $3.5 billion deficit.

Taylor wants a "bottoms-up" review of the myriad tax "loopholes" to see where the state can bring in more revenue. He says he was bothered to learn that 83 cents of every tax dollar that leaves Florida to the federal government actually comes back to the state. He vows to fight for more grants and programs to up that amount.

"It's a crime for our money to go to support programs" in other states, he said.

Both men say they'll work to lure companies to Florida to increase the number of well-paying jobs here and in District 11, comprised of portions of Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Fasano says he already has, along with $5 million for economic development for Pasco County.

Oil drilling

Fasano supports Sen. John McCain's plan to lift the federal ban on offshore drilling and let states decide. He said he would be comfortable with rigs as close as 50 miles from shore and said Florida should have a refinery here.

Taylor said he would rather have that distance increased to 100 miles. Both men say any expanded drilling must come with the condition that a cut of the profits from oil revenues land in state coffers. Taylor said the bulk of that money should go in a "lock box fund" to fund cleanup efforts in the event of spill.

Miscellaneous

A Vietnam veteran, Taylor said he would work to enhance programs for veterans and the other two groups who most need it - children and the elderly, with a particular focus on health care.

Fasano said he'll do his best to make sure that the district continues to get its fair share of transportation dollars. He touted his staff's ability to provide constituent services and said those efforts would continue if he's reelected.

MIKE FASANO

AGE: 50.

EDUCATION: Attended St. Petersburg College, 1987-1990.

FAMILY: Single; no children.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Associate vice president for investments, Morgan Stanley.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Florida House of Representatives, 1994-2002, Florida Senate, 2002-present.

WEB SITE: www.flsenate.gov/legislators/s11.

FRED TAYLOR

AGE: 60.

EDUCATON: Bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Indiana University.

FAMILY: Married; four children.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Business broker.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None.

WEB SITE: www.fredtaylor2008.com.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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