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Crist uses deputies for ad, with approval of sheriff
By RYAN DAVIS, Times Staff Writer Before the 2000 election, sheriff candidate Bob White said, "I want to take the politics out of the department." Another election cycle has rolled around. And last month, fellow Republican Charlie Crist called Sheriff White and asked if some of his deputies would appear in a campaign ad. Crist is running for attorney general. White approved the request, and a member of his command staff sought volunteers. Four deputies appear in the ad, which touts Crist as "Chain Gang Charlie." Does that break White's campaign promise? "That's something you'd have to ask the sheriff," said Cpl. Robert Haugh, a deputy who appeared in the ad. White won't comment. He twice declined requests from the Times to answer questions about the ad. Crist did not return numerous phone calls from the Times. The 30-second ad includes a short scene in which uniformed deputies walk with Crist. Haugh said it was taped last month near Little Road and State Road 52. The deputies were off duty at the time, said sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll. Crist, who holds the education commissioner post, is a former state senator from St. Petersburg. He faces competition in the September primary and has pushed his advocacy of roadside chain gangs for inmates. Doll said he does not think the ad goes against White's word. He said deputies have not appeared in any other campaign ads, but that White would review requests by any candidate, "regardless of their political party." What if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno wanted to be filmed talking to deputies? "I don't see why not," Doll said. Cpl. Haugh said someone in the command staff -- he doesn't remember who -- asked him if he had heard of Crist. "I thought it would be awesome," Haugh said, "to be on TV and to help him out." He said his kids were impressed when they saw their father on television. He also said he had previously met Crist and welcomed the chance to endorse the candidate. "To me, any time I'm going to choose to endorse someone, that's my choice," Haugh said. "It doesn't have anything to do with the sheriff." White frequently said his agency does not think politically. When his recent changes to the agency's bidding procedure came under fire, he said he did not consider what people would think of the decision before he made it. He said he doesn't run the agency with politics in mind. When running for office, he said he wasn't linked to anyone and that he wanted to remove politics from the department, largely in response to questions about his ties to state Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. Fasano helped gather statewide support for White's campaign, as White was a political unknown before the 2000 election. Why did Crist turn to White? "Why not?" Doll said. "We're just as good as any other Sheriff's Office, if not better." -- Ryan Davis is the police reporter in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245, or toll-free at 800-333-7505, ext. 6245. His e-mail address is rdavis@sptimes.com.
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