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Tallahassee, FL – When Floridians head to the polls in November they'll face six constitutional amendments. Among them is Amendment 4, better known as "Hometown Democracy." James Call reports, it's the latest front in Florida's long-running debate about how to manage growth.
Supporters say residents should have the final say when local growth plans are changed. Opponents say the proposal is unworkable and will kill jobs. A Hometown Democracy supporter went searching for votes in an unlikely place.
The Capital City Republican club takes its politics serious. The group of small business owners, academics, bureaucrats and retirees meet monthly and invite state leaders and opinion shapers to talk about public policy. Gregg Marr, the club president, explains to his members why he organized an Amendment 4 debate for their September meeting.
"It is important we be conversant in the pros and cons of this amendment so we can influence those around us and have more impact than just one vote we get to cast in November."
Republicans are Tallahassee's minority party. They are outnumbered 3 to 1 in voter registration. Yet, on primary night they made up 45 percent of the vote. That's one of the reasons why Hometown Democracy INC's John Hedrick agreed to go before the group and debate a Florida Chamber vice president about Amendment 4.
Five years ago, Hedrick and others began a petition drive to get the proposal on the ballot. They say it is needed because city and county governments consistently disregard local growth plans. The Florida Chamber says Amendment 4 will be bad for business and officially launched an offensive against it a year ago. And although Marr describes his members as a bunch of Capitalist Roadies, Hedrick said he will search for support wherever people meet.
"I'm not prejudging any audience but assuming for point of argument this one may not be sympathetic there are points that appeal to Republicans and Democrats and independents and anyone else in the general population."
Hedrick spent the summer debating 4's opponents at Tallahassee political club meetings. This time he was up against Adam Babington, who frequently articulates the Chamber's position. Amendment 4 gives voters the final say over changes to city and county comprehensive land use plans. Opponents say such an Athenian Democracy approach to land use is more mythical than practical in a state of 19 million people. Adam Babington:
"It's bad for everyone; it's bad for workers that are why the AFL-CIO has come out against it that's why local governments have come out against it. Environmental group's planners you have never seen a cross section of organizations and interest come out in opposition as they have against Amendment 4."
The way the system works now, if someone one wants to build anything from a grocery store to a high school on land zoned for something else they go to the government and get it to change the land use designation. Amendment 4 adds another step. Once the commission or council gives approval to the change, voters get the final say at the next scheduled election. 670 thousand Floridians signed petitions supporting the idea. Opponents say that additional step would bring growth and Florida's economy to a screeching halt. In debate Babington speaks first.
"This is about the future of Florida and how to get there. And I think what we see with amendment 4 is that it is short sighted and that there is a problem out there and this isn't the way to fix it."
"Any response Mr. Hedrick?"
"Just briefly, there has been no response advocated whatsoever by the other side to try to change things. There answer is killing this and everything will take care of itself. The trouble is that belies what has been attempted to be done for years in the Legislature."
After Hedrick and Babington delivered their talking points, about 90 members of the Capital City Republican Club participated in a straw poll. With tongue in cheek, Marr held out the possibility to Hedrick that he had, in Marr's words, enlightened the group about growth management philosophy.
"No, we're the lost cause you thought we were, 6 percent voted in favor of the amendment, 94 percent oppose."
On November 2, if the proposal gets 60 percent approval at the polls, then Amendment 4 would be added to the Florida constitution.