Amendment 4 Leader Concedes Defeat, Challenges Politicians

Florida Hometown Democracy President Lesley Blackner conceded the defeat of growth-management measure Amendment 4 Tuesday night. In a statement, she said:

"We are obviously disappointed in the apparent outcome of the referendum on Amendment 4. But we are extremely grateful for the countless thousands of volunteers and grass-roots activists who stepped forward over the past seven years to fight the monumental battle just to get this issue on the ballot.

"Unfortunately, it is very difficult to have a rational discussion of a solution to Floridas horrible growth-management problem in 30-second television ads that cost millions of dollars to air. Voters were subjected to the full financial power of those special interests that are committed to maintaining a death grip on their ability to control the status quo of sprawl and overbuilding in our state. We nonetheless respect the voters judgment at the ballot box.

"For seven years, we sought to focus a discussion about how Florida will grow. We hope it is a discussion that continues beyond today, which marks the end of the Florida Hometown Democracy movement.It is left to our states elected leaders and residents find an answer to Floridas addiction to promiscuous construction before it is too late for our states natural resources and quality of life."