Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc.

BRADENTON - In a raucous debate Thursday that showed how divisive the issue has become, a proponent and an opponent of Amendment 4 blasted each other over the growth management measure.

"It started off with a battle and it ended with one," Pat Glass, moderator of the Manatee Tiger Bay Club, said.

A capacity crowd of roughly 200 club members and guests heard Ryan Houck, spokesman for Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, and Dan Lobeck, president of the Sarasota County-based Control Growth Now, accuse each other of distorting the possible consequences of what is commonly known as the Hometown Democracy amendment.

"This is written by lawyers for lawyers," Houck said. "... It's like taking a sledgehammer to a fruit fly."

"I'm trying to set the record straight about Amendment 4," countered Lobeck. "It's not what you're hearing. ... There is a campaign of disinformation going on."

The amendment to the state constitution on the Nov. 2 ballot would add an extra step to the process of changing the comprehensive land use plans required for all Florida municipalities and counties. Currently, those changes are approved by local elected officials.

If Amendment 4 passes, comp plan changes would have to be approved by voters.

"It's public empowerment," Lobeck said. "... That's what Amendment 4 is about: To give people the final say over quality of life issues."

Lobeck argued that developers who finance politicians' campaigns have long controlled land use decisions. Amendment 4 would enable local voters to veto politicians' decisions they consider unreasonable.

Countering arguments that Amendment 4 could scare away new business and worsen the recession, Lobeck said that the current land planning process is what led to overdevelopment and the real estate bust.

"It crashed our economy," Lobeck said.

Houck warned that Amendment 4 could overwhelm local electorates with referenda, even for minor revisions.

Disputed initiatives, he said, would be decided by costly political and media campaigns as sparring factions attempt to influence voters.

"It is a ham-fisted overreaction that will cause more problems than it will solve, Houck said. "It's replacing planning with a political circus."