(ORLANDO, FL – October 25, 2007) Floridians for Smarter Growth (FSG) today announced that Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis will lead the fight against the so-called Hometown Democracy amendment as the group’s General Chairperson for Broward County. This is the eighth appointment announced by the campaign to defeat the proposed amendment to the Florida constitution.
“Mayor Ortis is a well-known and well-respected advocate for Florida’s working families,” said Mark Wilson, FSG Treasurer and executive vice president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “His strong background in public service also makes him the perfect person to lead our campaign in Broward County.”
“I have devoted a great deal of time to fighting for working families,” Mayor Ortis said. “I am very concerned that this amendment will place affordable housing permanently out of reach for many of these hard-working Floridians.”
“It’s also clear that Hometown Democracy is a threat to our state’s jobs,” Mayor Ortis explained. “If passed, this amendment would seriously endanger the stability of our communities and the preservation of our quality-of-life.”
Mayor Ortis was elected to the Pembroke Pines City Commission in 1996 and served as Vice Mayor in 1998 and 2002. In August 2004 he was elected Mayor. Along with his newly elected duties as President of the Florida League of Cities, Mayor Ortis serves as the President of the Florida State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and as the Vice President of the Florida AFL-CIO Executive Board, both since 1990. He is also actively involved in the community and has served on the Executive Boards for the Broward County Red Cross, United Way of Broward County, and Special Olympics of Broward.
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.
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