Yesterday, I joined several Floridians for Smarter Growth colleagues on the road to Hillsborough County where we attended the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Hometown Democracy Debate. With more than 200 people in the audience, it was quite an event. In fact, this is the first in what the Business Journal hopes will be a series of debates. They should keep plugging, because they did a great job.
Our team of three debaters faced off against proponents of the so-called Hometown Democracy amendment. It is important to note that none of these participants were actually from Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc. Indeed, none of the group's founders agreed to participate in today’s debate. Instead, large contributor and adult entertainment kingpin Joe Redner led their team with Sierra Club activist John Hendrick and “public interest” attorney Kenneth Weiss at his side. After only a few minutes of debate, our team had Redner and his colleagues red-faced and on the ropes.
Adam Babington from the Florida Chamber focused on the amendment’s impacts to Florida’s economy and unique quality-of-life. Each time he spoke, he did so with polish and aplomb and, without fail, returned to hit our message points conclusively. Adam’s careful litigation of the case set a tone of clarity for the rest of the debate.
Former DCA secretary Linda Loomis Shelley of Fowler, White, Boggs and Banker kept the Hometown side honest. Twice she asked the audience to read a circulated copy of the Vote on Everything amendment, highlighting the inconsistencies and misinformation that surrounded many of Hometown’s fanatical claims. Around the room, sounds of fluttering papers and muted agreement were audible as members of the audience discovered the Hometown disinformation for themselves.
Batting cleanup for our side was former State Rep. Bob Henriquez who connected with the Tampa audience on a personal level more than once. Bob made it clear that the extreme proposal would disrupt the Tamp-area planning process and make things far worse, not better.
Our team came to play and, when the dust settled, not one false claim from the Hometown crowd went unchallenged. In the end, it was a clear win for our side. I don’t mind saying that the amendment's supporters were embarrassed many times over. In a moment that speaks volumes about Hometown’s cavalier view of this issue, Redner even said "let's pass Hometown Democracy and then fix it where its broken." His lawyer colleagues cringed, but had to let the comment stand.
Of course, Bob and Linda quickly caught Redner's foul tip: once the amendment is in place, they pointed out, only another amendment to the Constitution of the State of Florida can change it. Redner didn't respond; his team-mates sat quietly in defeat. The total collapse of their argument resonated in the Pepin Center meeting hall - but you won't read about it in the newspapers.
Our three debaters deserve a round of congratulations for preparing thoroughly and presenting so well. Hometown Democracy advocates have been exaggerating and flat-out lying about their proposal for years. Now that we are meeting them head-on with top-notch spokesmen, they don't stand a chance in any even-handed debate.
If the battle of ideas unfolds as it did yesterday, we can stop the Vote on Everything amendment before it destroys Florida's unique quality-of-life. But we will need your continued support as we meet them on any battlefield they choose.
Michael Caputo; Exec. Dir.
