Tampabay: Foes in legislative race scuffle over pay raise

Cannon, a Democrat, accused New Port Richey's Republican state representative of voting with colleagues to give himself a pay raise in the state Legislature.

But Fasano says his old rival has missed the mark.

The controversy began when Cannon said in an Aug. 1 news release: "It is simply unconscionable that Mr. Fasano has given himself a pay raise during this budget crisis. . . . This displays an amazing level of insensitivity on Mr. Fasano's part, not to mention a total lack of respect for voters in District 11."

District 11 stretches from northern Pinellas through western Pasco and Hernando to southern Citrus county.

Fasano shot back Monday: "Lee Cannon and his campaign workers may want to go back and do some more research," he said. "I have not taken a pay raise in seven years."

Fasano said that he has introduced legislation in the past to strip fellow lawmakers of pay raises.

"I didn't run for public office for the salary," he said. While his legislative colleagues now make more than $29,000 a year, Fasano says he still makes a little more than $23,000.

In a letter dated July 26, 1995, to the personnel officer for the state Legislature, Fasano waived any future pay increases.

"That's irrelevant," Cannon said repeatedly Monday. "The fact he does not accept pay raises is not the issue."

But Cannon's news release addresses the pay raise and attacks Fasano for being "more concerned with his own personal gain than with taking care of the business of the people."

On Monday, Cannon said the issue is that Fasano trumpeted legislation he introduced last year cutting pay for legislators. But the outcome of the budget process this summer resulted in 5 percent pay increases for lawmakers, double the amount for state employees.

"If you are going to submit a bill, you need to be attuned to the bill," Cannon said. "He needs to stand tall. . . . He has lost track of his bill. He needs to pay attention to his own bill."

Fasano's reply: "What?"

"He accused me of giving myself a pay raise," Fasano said. "That's what I see in the press release. I don't see anything else."

Fasano said Cannon misunderstands a complicated budget process. In October, Fasano introduced a bill that would have repealed a 2.5 percent pay raise to lawmakers granted in July 2001. His bill failed, but a similar Senate measure passed. That Senate bill repealed the pay increase in January but restored it on June 30.

Coupled with a 2.5 percent pay raise in the budget bill, state lawmakers got a total 5 percent pay raise starting July 1. That's double what was granted to most state employees.

Some lawmakers were caught off guard about the 5 percent raise. Fasano voted for the larger budget package but joined others in denouncing the raise when it came to light.

Cannon didn't wait for the primary to attack Fasano. Both must beat opponents in the Sept. 10 primary before they can face each other in the November general elections.

Fasano and Cannon last squared off two years ago. Fasano successfully backed political newcomer Bob White in the sheriff's race against Cannon, the incumbent.

Before then, Fasano allies on the County Commission regularly battled with then-Sheriff Cannon, including fights over his budget requests.

Cannon said during his tenure as sheriff he never turned down pay raises, and his salary was set by the state. He made $117,000 in his last year in office in 2000. But those times were different from the current economic crisis, he said.

"The county wasn't cutting the budget or vital services the way the state is doing now," Cannon said.

"I don't see any contradictions," he added. "This is not about the fact that (Fasano) doesn't take a pay raise. It's about the fact he does not pay attention to the bill."

-- Times researcher Kitty Bennett contributed to this report.

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