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Hometown Democracy Opponent Pens Dreadful Letter To Voters

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2007

Lobbyist John Thrasher, a lawyer and former speaker of the Florida House, makes a bogus but convincing case against the Hometown Democracy amendment that voters will possibly consider in November 2008.

Thrasher's letter to thousands of Florida voters might be the most brazen use of double-talk in the history of pettifoggery.

Hired by big business and development interests to fight the amendment, he pens his best to frighten the folks who signed a petition to put the issue on the ballot. His letter tells them to withdraw their names or brace for devastation.

Taking your name off the petition, he wrote, 'stops you from being committed to amending Florida's constitution and turning our beautiful state into a dumping ground for special interests.'

The special interests would be environmentalists, who believe the state's growth-management plans have lost their muscle because developers get them amended so often. He doesn't say what the Sierra Club might dump here, but he should probably conjure up something worse than a pile of worn-out Birkenstocks.

Thrasher's letter offers a disturbing preview of the dirty politics and tricky campaigning that would plague the state if Hometown Democracy becomes law.

If approved, every single change in local land-use plans would have to go on the ballot. Voters, many unable to name their county commissioners, would be expected to make informed decisions on tough concepts such as concurrency, setbacks, levels of service, density credits, affordable housing and mitigation.

Thrasher assumes the threat is beyond the average person's comprehension, so he treats voters as children, puts on a scary mask and says 'Boo!' The scariest part, and the biggest weakness of the Hometown Democracy campaign, is that such tactics do work.

He represents, among others, St. Joe Co. and Associated Industries of Florida, companies with an enormous stake in seeing the state grow. Thrasher, addressing friendly audiences, has been clear about why he really is against Hometown Democracy. He says it would hurt economic development. But he's too clever to say that to voters.

So Thrasher phrased his objections this way: Hometown Democracy 'turns all power over use of Florida's lands to certain electors. Guess who the electors will be. The special interests and their slick lawyers will rig the system to put our future in the hands of their cronies. Their electors will decide our fate and the fate of Florida.'

By 'their electors' he means Florida voters just like you.

It gets worse. Thrasher warns that the amendment will 'ruin Florida's scenic beauty, and cause utility rates to rise.' It's easy to imagine how the editing process might have gone. Editor: John, that's not scary enough. Let's say it will cause hurricanes and give your cat hairballs. Thrasher: Who cares about that? Let's say it will 'lead to higher property taxes.' And that's what the letter says.

It doesn't try to explain why taxes and utility bills will rise. Instead Thrasher says you should expect to see 'Florida's scenic beauty destroyed by Big Developers.' He capitalized the term to make the threat seem bigger.

You win, John. We're terrified.

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