UPDATE: FHD will appear on 2010 ballot.

UPDATE: FHD will appear on 2010 ballot.

From staff reports
June 29, 2009

On Monday, June 22, 2009, the Florida Division of Elections certified Florida Hometown Democracy's proposed constitutional amendment for the November 2010 ballot as Amendment 4, FHD announced.

Florida Hometown Democracy submitted 711,168 valid petitions throughout the state to qualify for the ballot, according to group officials.

“Our goal now is to spread the word that this important reform is definitely on the ballot,” Florida Hometown Democracy President Lesley Blackner said.

“Amendment 4 will give Floridians who are tired of government of the developer, by the developer and for the developer an avenue to change the status quo. We will be urging Floridians to “Vote yes “4” Florida and give yourself a vote on growth.”

Blackner thanked “the many, many Floridians who have gotten this important reform to this threshold.”

“We all collected petitions, donated money, talked to our friends and family to make this happen. Now we have to make sure Hometown Democracy gets to where it needs to be, in the Florida Constitution.”

In a statement, Blackner warned voters not to confuse FHD with an alternative “Floridians for Smarter Growth” amendment, supported by the development industry and related interests, that would supersede and limit FHD amendment provisions.

"This ridiculous proposal pretends to give a vote on growth but the devil is in the details,” said Blackner. “Voters get a referendum on a comprehensive plan change only if ten percent of the voters go in person to the supervisor of elections office to sign a petition within sixty days of passage.

“It discriminates against many, many Floridians, including the home-bound and military deployed abroad, who are excluded by design from participating in any such petition process.”