Amendment 4 forum … the short form

March 18, 2010|By Scott Maxwell, TAKING NAMES

...But  first, a look at this week's showdown in O-town over the most controversial amendment to show up on your ballot this fall - Hometown Democracy.

OK, the showdown was actually in Sanford on Wednesday night, when the League of Women Voters hosted a debate among supporters and opponents of the plan to let voters have the final say on whether major projects and developments should be approved.

But since most of you couldn't make the drive, I've decided to sum up the highlights of what you missed in four quick bullet-points.

Biggest lie: That came from the leader of the opposition, Ryan Houck, who repeated the development industry's already-debunked claim that the amendment "is designed to stop growth or progress at any cost." Even if Hometown Democracy passed and voters rejected every development plan they saw, there is still enough approved-but-undeveloped growth to last a long, long time. In Orange County alone that amounts to 93,000 unbuilt residential units. It says a lot about this side when one of their most-used arguments is simply untrue.

Opposition's best point: That implementing Hometown Democracy could lead to ugly campaigns and that local residents still might not get what they want. It's true that if, for instance, a developer wanted to put a massive development way out in east Orange County, he might be able focus the entire campaign on persuading residents in the rest of the county - who won't be as impacted by it - to support it. This amendment would punch many a campaign consultant's meal ticket.

Best lines: Houck has one that seizes upon the complications and unintended consequences that may result from Hometown Democracy: "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is clear, simple and wrong." Hometown Democracy leader Lesley Blackner countered with this about development-addicted politicians. "The people in power are incapable of reform," she said. "They have been driving drunk for too long. And the people need to take the keys back."

Best smackdown: This one was delivered by Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel, who was there as a neutral party to talk about the effect on local ballots. Houck had just trotted out another development-lobby talking point, about how Hometown Democracy would confuse all the poor, uninformed voters. To which Ertel responded that Americans cast ballots for the most important office on Earth - the presidency - based upon simply the first and last name of the candidates. "If we can elect a president based upon two words," said the GOP elections supervisor, "I think we can all do it based on up to 75."