Local Republicans are trying to exile Sen. Mike Fasano from the party.
His offense? Remaining loyal to Gov. Charlie Crist, who left the party to run as an independent for U.S. Senate.
The five-member executive board of the Pasco Republican Executive Committee filed a grievance against Fasano with the state party this week, saying he had violated the party’s loyalty oath by supporting a non-Republican candidate.
“The senator continued to support publicly Charlie Crist for his senate run,” Pasco GOP chairman Randy Maggard said Thursday afternoon, hours before an executive committee meeting. “He broke every rule there he is. We thought it was wrong. … If you’re not a Republican, you don’t need to be in the party. … I don’t call it in-fighting. I call it cleaning house.”
Thursday night, as he announced the decision to about 100 general members, Maggard said he was putting “RINOs” — Republicans in Name Only — on alert. “We will not put up with it in Pasco County,” he said to applause. “We’re going to weed them out.” Continue reading here.
