Charter would give people power

Charter would give people power



By TINA MCGOUGH
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 08/03/08

Why vote for the charter form of government in St. Johns County on the Aug. 26 primary ballot? As Ginger Delegal of the Florida Association of Counties said, charter gives the people of St. Johns County ultimate authority over their local government.

With the current government, we citizens cannot recall elected commissioners, put an item on the ballot for referendum, require candidates to live in the district they represent prior to running for office, institute any campaign finance reforms, and worst of all, if we disagree with the ordinances adopted by the County Commission, we have no recourse.

Under the charter form of government proposed on the August ballot, citizens have the right to: recall commissioners, petition the government for referendum and require commission candidates live in their district when running for office.

The charter will also cut in half the commission campaign contributions allowed by individuals and businesses, and add transparency to campaign finance reports by requiring their filing electronically, as is done for state offices.

But that's not all. August voters may also choose whether to add to the charter term limits and non-partisan voting for county commissioners, and to limit building heights on our still beautiful coastline.

Best of all, any changes to the charter cannot be approved solely by the county commissioners who are subject to developer and special interest pressures. The charter can only be changed by approval of the majority of St. Johns County voters. Voter approval takes the power from elected officials and places it squarely in the hands of the citizens. That's people power. And that is why this charter gives people more power over locally elected officials.

The original draft of the proposed charter was written by Professor Joe Little, respected Constitutional Law expert at University of Florida Levin College of Law, and proponent of "people power" through constitutional powers. Little then approved the revision based on community input. The draft was then further refined by another (independent) volunteer commun-ity group of 12, and written in final form by the County Attorney and staff before submittal to the St. Johns County Commission.

The County Commission then removed term limits from the charter for separate placement on the ballot due to the mixed feelings on term limitations among citizens. Similarly, non-partisan voting and height restrictions where added to the ballot by the County Commission as separate charter questions based on citizen feedback.

This charter has been carefully studied, written, and vetted. Vote for the charter form of government on Aug. 26. You will give yourself the power to shape the government of St. Johns County now (like nonpartisan voting and height restrictions) as well as the opportunity to re-shape it as changes come in the future.

If you have further questions about the charter, go to the county Web site, www.co.st-johns.fl.us, and click on "Charter Government" or call the county attorney's office.

#

Tina McGough was a member of the committee that developed the proposed charter and was a presenter of the proposal to various community groups.

She said the committee of about a dozen people spent three years (2004-2007) studying and refining the proposed charter through community input.

Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/080308/opinions_080308_089.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record