Rip up letter and mail it back to Thrasher

The e-mail came a few days ago from a Clermont woman who signed a petition to get the Hometown Democracy Amendment on the November ballot.

"Ms. Ritchie," it began, "Do you know of a way to stop the letters that come to my home from [former Florida House Speaker] John Thrasher pushing for the revocation of my signature from the petition? I received my second or third one today.

"As you mentioned in a column some time ago, this is a very strongly worded letter. The petition revocation form (and its pre-addressed stamped envelope). . .is already completed except for my signature! Thanks for any direction you can provide to stop these letters."

That was uncannily evil of you to e-mail me, Jane Boyack. It's the sort of thing that tempts me, especially when I learn that unprincipled former legislators provide stamped envelopes. Stamped! What a glorious 41-cent opportunity to tell Thrasher what you think while spending his money to work against him! It's the polite person's equivalent of thumbing one's nose.

Thrasher and his big-money backers have stooped particularly low in the waning days of this petition drive to prevent enough people from signing the petitions to put the amendment before voters. They say that the amendment would result in a "large increase in property taxes," would allow developers to "ruin Florida's scenic beauty," and would lead to increases in utility bills.

None of this is remotely true.

His letter warns that people have been tricked and that "special interests" will take over the state. He urges them to revoke their signature.

I e-mailed Thrasher at his lobbying firm to ask if he'd talk to me about his claims, and his response was, "I'm not into getting beat up by you all again."

Seems that another Sentinel columnist already had worked him over on those points. He was more than willing to talk about the campaign, which is about 110,000 signatures short with time running out. I didn't really want to listen to Thrasher gloat about his success in light of his tactics.

For example, the "special interests" he mentions are voters. Thrasher is on the side of developers. He fears that if Floridians are given the power to decide, they will vote against big development. He is right about that. So he's masquerading as something he's not when he signs the letter the "Honorable" John Thrasher. Nothing about this newest sham is honorable. Well, except the stamp.

"Dear Ms. Boyack," my return e-mail began.

"Interesting problem. How annoying. I think if you tore the letter into little teeny-tiny pieces and used the pre-stamped envelope to send it back to them, that might get the message across."

Meanwhile, for those who haven't signed the petition, there are still a few days left. The deadline for the group to submit the signatures is Feb. 1.

The amendment would let voters decide whether they want to control major changes to a county's growth plan. For example, they could decide whether they wanted to allow big, sprawling subdivisions in a certain area or allow a major roadway to be built through environmentally sensitive land. (The amendment wouldn't affect rezonings.)

It will take 60 percent of those voting to get the amendment passed -- if it gets on the ballot.

A last-minute plea from the petition drive urges registered voters to download the petition at floridahometowndemocracy.com.

This amendment isn't really about development. It's about power. Do you want to leave it in the hands of elected officials or take it into your own?

Lauren Ritchie can be reached at Lritchie@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5918.