Politics

FPL and Crist: Old foes become allies

The utility donates another $250,000 to the campaign to pass the amendment to cut property taxes.

By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
Published January 15, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Power & Light is quickly becoming one of Gov. Charlie Crist's biggest allies in his push to pass the property tax cut on the Jan. 29 ballot.

The state's largest utility has contributed another $250,000 to the political campaign promoting Amendment 1 - bringing its total contribution to $750,000 since December.

With FPL's help, the Vote Yes on 1 campaign has taken in $3.3-million in cash. Only the Florida Association of Realtors has given more to the effort, with $1-million.

Money has been used for a TV ad, direct mail and other promotional material. Nearly $1-million was spent Friday on ads that will appear across the state.

By comparison, opponents have raised $855,000, largely from unions.

The FPL donation, which a company spokesman said may be repeated, is notable not only for its size but also because Crist used to have an adversarial relationship with the utility.

As a state senator from St. Petersburg, he proposed legislation to ban a fuel the utility wanted to use in its Manatee County power plants. As Florida attorney general, Crist got FPL to freeze its electricity rate. And as a candidate for governor in 2006, he rejected the utility's donation to his campaign.

Crist was drumming up support for the tax proposal in South Florida on Monday and could not be reached. But he previously explained his newfound friendship with FPL.

"They've shown me a great corporate ethic, a great attitude on climate change," Crist told the St. Petersburg Times shortly before Christmas. "I'm grateful for that. They've not been naughty, they've been nice."

With 4.5-million customers from Sarasota to Miami and up the east coast, Florida Power & Light is the state's largest utility.

Company spokesman Mayco Villafana said the utilityis not seeking special favors.

"We believe property tax relief is one of the things that can be done to make sure the state economy remains strong and helps spur growth again," he said. "It's good for our customers and our employees."

Some, however, have speculated that the utility is seeking to advance legislation that would give the state Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts the ability to grant utility easements on state land. That power is currently reserved for the governor and state Cabinet, who make such decisions in well-attended public meetings.

Villafana denied FPL had another motive for its generosity.

"We didn't write or had any part of the drafting of that bill," he said. But he added, "we basically don't oppose it , either."

Frank Matthews, a utility lobbyist whose clients include FPL, crafted the legislation. He did not return a phone call Monday. It was written for an environmental committee under the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council, a group that advances utility concerns.

FPL's latest $250,000 donation shows up on the Web site of Yes on 1, the political committee running the pro-amendment campaign. Teco Energy Inc. of Tampa also contributed $50,000.

Also giving checks last week were the St. Joe Co. ($25,000); St. Petersburg developer Brent Sembler ($50,000); private prison contractor the Geo Group ($50,000); Wal-Mart ($10,000); and Disney ($25,000).

And showing that no donation is too small, Crist also pitched in some of his own cash.

He gave 10 bucks the week the campaign sent an e-mail requesting "$10-for-1."

Times staff writer Asjylyn Loder contributed to this report.

[Last modified January 14, 2008, 23:39:52]