Transparency Required: Who Is Behind State Rep. Vanessa Oliver’s “Crap” Utility Transfer Bill?

FL State Rep Vanessa Oliver.

State Rep. Vanessa Oliver, who has found herself in the line of fire, has drafted legislation that would transfer potable water service for customers living outside the Punta Gorda city limits to Charlotte County Utilities, which causes some people to question her integrity and transparency. The initiative has raised significant concern among local officials and residents, particularly due to the lack of clarity surrounding its origin and motivation.

While Charlotte County Commission Chair Joe Tiseo has denied that the county initiated the effort, Punta Gorda City council members reported receiving conflicting explanations after contacting various officials. These inconsistencies have fueled growing concerns that the bill may be driven by special interest groups, developers, or other county-level interests rather than by the honest needs of Punta Gorda residents. Some residents have asked, Who is State Rep. Oliver really working for?

Those concerns were further heightened at the Republican Executive Committee (REC) meeting on December 11, 2025. When the question was raised about the motivation behind the bill. Commissioner Joe Tiseo appeared uncomfortable and defensive in his response, doing little to clarify who initiated the legislation or why it was being advanced. His reaction only added to the perception that key details surrounding the bill remain opaque. Objectively, Commissioner Tiseo may have acted in accordance with the rules that he cannot answer questions at the time on behalf of the Commissioner as an entity, but Tiseo is more than just a commissioner when attending meetings such as the REC; he is a private individual as well, and thus could answer for himself.

Adding to the scrutiny and the reason some people question Oliver’s bill, is Commissioner Tiseo’s well-documented political support for both State Rep. Vanessa Oliver and State Rep. Danny Nix during their 2024 campaigns for State Representative. Tiseo openly supported both candidates and was instrumental in securing $6,000 in campaign funds for each from the Republican Executive Committee. That decision was met with heavy criticism from many within the REC but nevertheless passed under then-Chairman Bill Abbatematteo.

These circumstances beg several critical questions: Who is truly behind this bill? What is the real motivation for advancing it? And who in positions of power—including elected officials—owns property in Punta Gorda and may personally benefit from such a transfer of utility responsibilities?

John Fleming, co-founder of the Burnt Store Corridor Coalition, sharply criticized Charlotte County for failing to raise its tap fees—charges for new water or sewer connections—since 2018. Fleming noted that Charlotte County’s current tap fee is approximately $2,900, among the lowest in Florida, and argued it should be closer to $7,910. Addressing City Council, Fleming stated bluntly, “Charlotte County is using you as a fall guy to bail them out.”

The bill drafted by Rep. Oliver states: “Charlotte County is prepared to assume responsibility for potable water utility operations within the district immediately, while the transition of wastewater utility functions will require additional time.” However, this language itself has drawn criticism for its lack of specificity and clarity.

City Attorney Steven Leskovich did not mince words during a public meeting. “I don’t know why this was written, I don’t care who wrote it,” he said. “From a legal perspective, this bill is crap as written, because it leaves open a lot of ambiguities.”

This leads to a broader and more troubling inquiry: Who is State Rep. Vanessa Oliver truly pandering to? Whose interests are being served by this legislation—and whose are being ignored? Is the average resident of Punta Gorda being protected, or sidelined?

Further scrutiny is warranted given that several elected officials reportedly have vested financial and real estate interests in Punta Gorda. These include Commissioner Bill Truex, Commissioner Chris Constance, School Board member Kim Amontree, State Rep. Danny Nix, and allegedly State Rep. Vanessa Oliver herself. Through personal business relationships, corporations, LLCs, or trusts, shifting utility responsibilities from the city to the county could potentially benefit those interests.

While additional investigation is clearly needed, the legislation as written has already drawn heavy criticism throughout Charlotte County and Punta Gorda alike. As it stands, this so-called “crap” bill raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and who truly stands to gain.

On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Charlotte County Commission has schedule a Special Meeting in the Charlotte County Administration Center, Room 119, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL. This meeting IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND CITIZENS to speak on the matter, and you are strongly encourage to attend and speak. Contact Commissioner Joe Tiseo if you have any questions about the time of this meeting or concerns at: [email protected]