Hometown Democracy fails to make it onto November ballot

TALLAHASEE, Fla. – Feb. 4, 2008 – The proposed Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment did not get enough voter signatures by its Friday deadline to make it onto the November 2008 ballot. But supporters say it will be back in 2010 and, given the number of signatures still needed, they’re probably right.
 
Leslie Blackner, a Palm Beach lawyer involved in the effort, pledged Friday night to keep working.
 
“We’ll be on the ballot for 2010,” Blackner said.

It’s even possible that the initiative collected enough signatures to make it onto the 2008 ballot, but officials ran out of time to count them thanks to a deluge of signatures submitted over the past month for all citizen-backed amendments. Hometown Democracy’s leader, Palm Beach lawyer Lesley Blackner, claims they submitted almost 800,000 signatures.

Environmentalists seeking a greater say in local development decisions launched the Hometown Democracy initiative. It would require voter approval for changes to land-use plans. Business groups view it as the No. 1 enemy and poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into several opposition groups.
 
The effort was slowed by a signature revocation effort led by Save Our Constitution. Under a state law that went into effect Aug. 1, 2007, opponents have 150 days to contact petition signers and see if they want to change their mind.
 
Of the 564,558 signatures in favor of Hometown Democracy verified by the Secretary of State’s Office, 18,731 were revoked, putting the group's bottom line number at 545,827. Signatures are good for four years.

“This is the third time Lesley Blackner and her antigrowth fanatics have failed to deliver on this bad amendment, which attempts to turn back the clock on Florida’s growth and prosperity,” said Barney Bishop, chief executive of Associated Industries of Florida and co-chairman of Save Our Constitution, the group organized to oppose Hometown Democracy.

© 2008 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
 

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