Problems for Palm Coast & Florida ahead?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – June 18, 2009 – In a legal victory for Florida Hometown Democracy, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a state law allowing voters to take back their signatures on proposed constitutional amendment petitions, the Associated Press reported late Wednesday. By a 4-2 vote, the high court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of Hometown Democracy, which is seeking a constitutional amendment that requires voters to approve proposed changes to local comprehensive plans. Earlier this month, Hometown Democracy, which challenged the signature revocation law, announced it had enough verified signatures to qualify for the 2010 ballot. The Secretary of State’s office, however, has yet to certify the ballot item as it awaited word from the state’s highest court.“We anticipated that Hometown Democracy would get their signatures, so we have been planning as if the amendment is already on the ballot,” says John Sebree, vice president of public policy for the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). “When we explain to Realtors and others how much this amendment would cost their local governments and property owners, they realize it is not what its authors claim it to be.”FAR is part of Floridians for Smart Growth (http://www.florida2010.org), a coalition of 130 business groups and local governments that supports a statewide campaign against the anti-growth Hometown Democracy amendment. © 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®