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Eliminating Home Rule Is ‘Wrong Approach,’ Latvala Says

Jack Latvala | Florida Senate | Politics

By ANNE LINDBERG, TB Reporter

The state senator’s comments came during a Facebook chat this morning.

TAMPA BAY – State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, took a moment during a Facebook interview this morning (March 28) to defend home rule.

“Well, I think home rule. There’s this attitude from a lot of folks in the [State] House [of Representatives] that we ought to make all the laws for Florida right here in Tallahassee. That we ought to preempt and do away with the ability of local cities and counties to do local ordinances, to regulate things, businesses and people’s lives. And I think that’s the wrong approach,” Latvala said.

He added, “My experience is that people tend to trust the level of government closest to them. So why we would preempt those people from being able to make their own decisions at the local level, and try to co-opt all that decisionmaking to Tallahassee, is just wrong. … I think they [the House] think they know better than the local elected officials.”

Latvala’s remarks came during a Facebook chat with Florida Times Union reporter Tia Mitchell. His comments come at a time when cities and counties across the state are battling proposed legislation that, they say, would take power away from local control and place it in the hands of Tallahassee lawmakers.

Among the disputed legislation are proposals to prevent cities from regulating short-term rentals, offer tax incentives to rejuvenate blighted areas and would allow wireless towers in public rights of way.

Andrew Gillum | Politics | Home Rule
Andrew Gillum

Among the municipal officials who have been the most outspoken about retaining local control is Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democrat who is running for governor. Gillum founded the Campaign to Defend Local Solutions in January. The CDLS is a a non-partisan, grassroots coalition of local elected officials from 15 states, and local and national organizations, aimed at bringing attention to attacks on home rule and defending local solutions to local problems.

“Sen. Latvala eloquently expressed so many of the reasons we’re working to defend local solutions in Florida and across the nation,” CDLS campaign manager Michael Alfano said. “We thank him for standing up for Florida’s cities, counties, and local voices.”

For information about Latvala, go to jacklatvala.com.

Jack Latvala | Home Rule | Andrew Gillum | Campaign to Defend Local Solutions | TB Reporter

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