Politics

Utility now a friend of Crist

Last year, he turned down FPL's money. This year, a $250,000 donation is accepted.

By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

When running for governor, Charlie Crist rejected FPL's money.
	[AP photo]

TALLAHASSEE - As he ran for governorlast year, Charlie Cristcollected nearly $20-million from donors. But when Florida Power & Light Co. offered a huge check, Crist said get lost.

He had good reason. The state's largest utility hadspent $225,000 criticizingCrist in favor of his GOP primary rival, Tom Gallagher. Crist was running as a pro-consumer utility basher.

Now Crist is on the campaign trail again, and this time, FPL's money is perfectly fine.

The political committee Gov. Crist is leading to promote the property tax cut plan on the Jan. 29 ballot, Amendment 1, has accepted a $250,000 contribution from FPL.

"They've shown me a great corporate ethic, a great attitude on climate change," Crist said. "I'm grateful for that. They've not been naughty, they've been nice."

It is the second largest donation behind the $1-million the Florida Association of Realtors committed to the campaign.

The money is being used for mailers, recorded phone messages and TV commercials. And soon, billboards. On Tuesday, the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association, whose members would see a tax break under the plan, said it would donate space to promote the "Vote Yes on 1" message.

"It's not about the governor," said FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana, acknowledging past friction. "We believe as a company we have a responsibility to get involved. We have been concerned about the impact escalating taxes have had on homeowners."

But others cast suspicion on the contribution and other large donations.

"They are not interested in the well being of average Floridians. They are interested in currying favor with politicians," said Karen Woodall, an activist heading a coalition of teachers, firefighters and others against the tax cut.

The opponents say the proposal gives little relief to those who need it while taking billions from local government and schools.

Amendment 1 would increase the homestead exemption to about $40,000, allow people to apply their accrued tax savings under Save Our Homes when they buy a new house, and would cap annual increases on assessments at 10 percent for non-homestead property.

The fourth component wouldexempt $25,000 in business property, including billboards.

Selling the idea will not be easy. The product of a divisive special legislative session in October, the plan continues to come under assault from all sides.

Today in St. Petersburg, for example,House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, will tout an alternative tax plan.

Crist has also had trouble raising money for the measure, particularlyfrom business groups who feel the assessment cap is weak. He traveled to New York for a fundraiser with Donald Trump, but the crowd was modest.

Which makes FPL's donation more noticeable.

Crist has long had an adversarial relationship with the utility. In 1997, as a state senator from St. Petersburg, he proposed legislation to ban the use of a fuel the utility wanted to use in its Manatee County power plants. FPL accused him of grand-standing as he set his sights on a U.S. Senate seat.

Two years ago as Florida's attorney general, Crist honed his pro-consumer image by getting FPL to freeze its electricity rate.

This year, however, Crist stood with Brad Pitt and Bill Clinton as FPL revealed plans to build Florida's first large-scale solar thermal power plant, one of the largest such plants in the world. And Crist named an FPL executive to advise his climate change efforts.

The campaign contributions go to Vote Yes on 1, a committee pushing the tax plan. Other large contributors include TECO Energy ($50,00); Ruden McClosky Smith Schuester & Russell, a large South Florida law firm ($10,000); the Florida Medical Association ($50,000) and Gary Kompothecras, the Sarasota chiropractor behind "1-800-ASK-GARY" ads ($25,000).

Yes on 1 has reported about $1.5-million in cash contributions - far short of the $5-million to $10-million it wants to raise.

[Last modified December 18, 2007, 23:40:29]