Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc.

(ORLANDO, FL - January 24, 2007) As candidates barnstorm Florida in the run-up to the state's January 29 presidential primary, the so-called Hometown Democracy amendment is dying on the vine. Just a few days remain in the anti-growth amendment's drive to qualify for the 2008 ballot, and many Floridians are anxiously awaiting news from the state Division of Elections.

Chief among them: hundreds of Florida business and community leaders active in a statewide campaign machine that rivals any of the presidential teams.

"With 19 active county campaign teams, Floridians for Smarter Growth (FSG) is outfitted for victory if the 'Vote on Everything' amendment makes the 2008 ballot," FSG executive director Michael Caputo said. "If Hometown Democracy qualifies, we're fully armed and ready to beat it."

Under FSG Political Director Ryan Houck, the Floridians for Smarter Growth campaign team is firmly established and growing quickly statewide:

• FSG County Chairmen: 19 (SEE: http://www.flsmartergrowth.org/county_chairmen.php )

• FSG County Executive Committees: 27 comprised of more than 200 Floridians.

• FSG Speaker's Bureau: 106 members statewide carrying FSG's message to local business and community groups.

• FSG Visibility Team: 70 members statewide poised to deliver FSG's message to local news outlets.

• FSG Resolutions, Letters and Motions: 99 Florida organizations have taken a stand against Hometown Democracy. (SEE: http://www.flsmartergrowth.org/coalition.php )

• FSG Local Leadership: More than 500 active 'grasstops' Floridians in contact with FSG via Web meetings, conference calls, telephone, and personal meetings.

• FSG Contact Database: a custom-built, focused and highly-effective database of over 25,000 key 'grasstops' contacts throughout Florida who receive regular campaign updates and breaking news material via Web.

FSG Visibility Team and Speakers Bureau members receive basic message training from campaign staff and assistance prior to every speaking engagement or media interview. In the six months since FSG was founded, campaign staff have participated in 130 group meetings in their drive to assemble local teams. No challenge to debate amendment advocates went unmet; no request for a speaker was denied.

"In my 25 years in campaigns, I've never seen a more capable team assembled so fast to fight statewide," Caputo said. "The battlefield looks quite different since last summer, too. Our research shows the amendment's popularity is plummeting as voters realize Hometown is a classic case of 'right problem, wrong solution.' The more they know, the less they like it."

Notably, more than 65,000 Web inquiries were generated through the campaign's Internet outreach program targeting Florida's 'grasstops' decision-makers and opinion leaders.

Floridians for Smarter Growth was founded by Sunshine State community and business leaders to fight extreme special interests bound to destroy Florida's unique quality-of-life under the guise of the Hometown Democracy amendment. Please visit www.FLSmarterGrowth.org for more information and to download, sign, and submit the Smarter Growth petition.

END