Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc.

Business leaders, civil servants at forefront of Southwest Florida opposition to Amendment 4.

(Orlando, FL – May 4, 2010) Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy (the "Vote No on 4" campaign) today announced the names of its Southwest Florida Co-Chairs. The group includes Carole Green, a former Lee County State Representative and former Secretary for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs under Governor Jeb Bush; Jim Doane, Vice President of Leasing and Brokerage at a Naples-based commercial real estate firm; and Mike Grant, a small business owner and former State Representative from Charlotte County. Today's announcement comes one week after the campaign released the names of its three Tampa Bay Co-Chairs.

“We’re proud of our leadership team in Southwest Florida,” said the campaign’s executive director Ryan Houck. “They’re joining a broad and diverse group of fellow co-chairs that include bi-partisan leaders in the business, labor and environmental communities.”

Carole Green (click here for bio) served as Florida’s Secretary for the Department of Elder Affairs from 2005 to 2006. During that time, she served on the Advisory Council to the White House Conference on Aging. Prior to that, she represented her hometown in the Florida House of Representatives. “Amendment 4 will delay and disrupt the construction of hospitals and other urgent care facilities in Florida. Amendment 4 is so extreme that even uncontroversial community projects, such as healthcare facilities for the elderly, will often be subjected to the long delays and costly uncertainties of high-priced media campaigns,” said Green.

Jim Doane (click here for bio) is President of Leasing and Brokerage at Welsh Companies Florida, a full service commercial real estate firm based in Naples. “This measure would further damage our economy by killing jobs and raising unemployment at a time when Floridians can least afford it,” stated Doane.

Mike Grant (click here for bio) is a small business owner, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, and former member of the Charlotte County Economic Development Council. “Amendment 4 means an extra layer of bureaucracy for Florida’s small businesses. The folks on Wall Street might have the lawyers and the political consultants to do business under Amendment 4, but for those of us on Main Street – small businesses in particular – this measure is a job-killer, plain and simple.” said Grant.

Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy (the "Vote No on 4" campaign) is an umbrella organization that leads opposition to Amendment 4. The campaign's statewide Board of Directors includes former National League of Cities President, Clarence Anthony, Florida Chamber of Commerce President, Mark Wilson, and Florida AFL-CIO Executive Committee member, Frank Ortis. To date, more than 260 organizations throughout Florida have opposed Amendment 4; more join the fight every day. Please visit www.florida2010.org for more information.