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Hometown Democracy Proposition Deserves Bipartisan Support

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2007

Let me add a bipartisan note to Democrat Arthur Hayhoe's guest column of Oct. 21 in support the Hometown Democracy proposition that would allow voters to have a say concerning development in their county ("Hometown Democracy Gives Voters A Say In Development").

It is my perception, as a longtime member of the Pasco County Republican Executive Committee, from discussions with members and the proceedings of the committee that we have four predominant areas of concern: We are opposed to gun control, and we are pro-life, for lower taxes and disgusted with developers and too much development.

I believe this committee and the citizens of the county would both vote to preserve much more of Pasco's rural character and not let it become just another giant Carrollwood.

Presently, and thankfully, we preserve wetlands through a shaky interpretation of the Constitution's Commerce Clause. I would much prefer to clarify that permanently and include uplands as well.

Many Republicans, especially out West, are most strongly into property rights. But I believe that property rights also extend to the citizenry whose lives and "pursuit of happiness" are enhanced by viewing wild natural lands and their preservation.

The only large expanses of natural land left in the country for our great grandchildren should not be only the ones the county can afford to buy with its limited budget. A rancher who happened to buy grazing land and woods near Tampa years ago should not necessarily be able to sell it to developers and get rich, any more than a rancher far from any city could. Land use changes in this important aesthetic and wildlife preservation area should be up to the local viewing public.

Deck Is Stacked

One of the bedrock principles of political conservatism is that government decisions should be brought down as close to the voters as possible, and the Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment would further that. (To get this on the ballot, more than 600,000 petition signatures are required by February. To get more information and sign the petition, go to: floridahome towndemocracy.com.)

Some would say that we are a republic and should rely upon our elected representatives to make these decisions. But in this case, the game is so stacked against the citizenry that they must step in and make them.

I have been following and served in local government for many years, here and in other states, and the problem in this regard is quite clear. While most local governments have advisory commissions and boards involving development and zoning, supposedly for citizen input, it is impossible to find enough average citizens who want to put in the many hours, travel and serious effort required. (Would you, could you, serve if asked?)

Consequently, most such advisory groups are then packed with only those who have a financial interest in these areas, mostly developers and real estate people, who are also heavy campaign contributors - supposedly representing the citizenry and not their pocketbooks. And this happens in both Democrat- and Republican-dominated local governments.

While I also agree with Hayhoe that Republicans are "business friendly" (and proudly so), as a business developer and planner I don't believe that real estate developers properly belong in that description. They are more similar to investors and speculators, like stockbrokers and investment backers, who are often Democrats. They are too short-term-profit and cost-cutting oriented and more into speculating, building and cashing out as fast as possible instead of building long-term relationships with customers.

Hidden Lakes

Both parties, Republican and Democratic, have wealthy fundraising supporter groups whose actions are on the whole counterproductive to America. Unfortunately, each party finds it too hard to resist their ample campaign handouts. For the Democrats it is the trial lawyers and union bosses, and for the Republicans, developers.

Each party would be better off to turn down their millions, as they turn off so many independent undecided voters - and even party activists like me. But I have never heard a Democrat face reality about their trial lawyer or union lobbies, which hurt America and feel the party is in their hip pockets, having bought it.

Thinking of Pasco County history, Land O' Lakes is a mystery to many newcomers. While maps show a great many lakes in and around it as its name implies, driving around one is able to see only a few, with glimpses of a few others between houses. Overdevelopment is the reason. A better name would be "Hidden Lakes."

We should at least have the policy they have in Wisconsin, where every lake of any size has a public access and dock. Why don't our roads often run along scenic lakes, making the area much more attractive and inviting, lakes more accessible and valuable to the public and the town more attractive, like up North?

Instead, developers sold the highest-profit lots and got out, letting buyers hoard the views, and left the barrens to the citizenry.

Michael Donahue lives in Wesley Chapel.

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