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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Aimee Porter / 407.442.0837
1/11/08

HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY SKIPS VITAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE DEADLINE, BREAKS STATE LAW

(ORLANDO, FL - January 11, 2007) Leaders of the so-called Hometown Democracy movement have failed to meet a key campaign finance deadline in the run-up to the end of January - the qualification deadline the November 2008 ballot. According to Floridians for Smarter Growth (FSG), the statewide campaign to defeat the amendment, this gambit is designed to hide the names of big-money donors until the last minute.

All active campaigns were required to submit quarterly finance reports yesterday, January 10. According to the Florida Division of Elections, Florida Hometown Democracy has not filed a fourth quarter report which many expect to show new and significant donations by a variety of in-and out-of-state special interests.

"Contrary to founder Lesley Blackner's self-righteous claims, Hometown Democracy does not play by the rules," FSG executive director Michael Caputo said. "Just as their petition deadline looms and last-minute money targeting Florida's Constitution hits their bank accounts, the Vote on Everything crowd shrugs off a legal deadline."

"Today, Hometown Democracy is breaking the law to hide the origin of a huge influx of cash," Caputo said. "Floridians deserve more clarity and transparency than this far-out fringe is willing to provide. Our laws demand it and they must comply immediately."

Blackner held Hometown Democracy petitions in secret for six months and dumped over a hundred thousand unchecked petitions on county election supervisors' offices in recent days. When the validation system slowed, she blamed Floridians for Smarter Growth for "clogging the system" with an alternative petition.

Earlier this week, Blackner labeled the Division of Elections and county elections supervisors "incompetent" as the accuracy of a State Web site displaying a county-by-county tally of valid petitions was questioned - even though the data was provided only as a courtesy to campaigns. Blackner was relying on state employees to keep count of her petitions instead of maintaining her own accurate campaign records. Recent public statements show she may blame election officials for her failure to make the ballot.

Floridians for Smarter Growth filed a timely Q4 campaign finance report showing an additional $1,440,453.33 was raised during that period. The committee's report is available on the Internet at http://election.dos.state.fl.us. For more information about FSG, please visit www.FLSmarterGrowth.org.

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