Orange County League Endorses Three Orange County Charter Changes
The League of Women Voters of Orange County strongly endorses and recommends voting YES on all three Orange County Charter questions on the November 3 ballot.
The Orange County Charter is the guiding document for county government. Every four years, a citizen committee reviews the charter and, with input from the community, proposes amendments, which are then presented to the voters for approval.
The League endorsement of these three proposed changes follows intense study about the issues involved and the merits of the proposals.
Proposed Charter Question 1 gives Orange County citizens the legal right to go to court to protect our fresh water, our springs, rivers, and lakes from pollution. It will act as a disincentive to government and corporate polluters; it costs less to keep water clean than it does to clean up after the damage is done. Vote YES.
Proposed Charter Question 2 protects Split Oak Forest from proposed development that could threaten this priceless preserve. The charter amendment would bar the County Commission from changing current covenants that preserve the forest as conservation land. Orange and Osceola counties have pledged to protect Split Oak Forest “in perpetuity.” That means forever, but now a toll road is proposed through the forest. The League of Women Voters of Orange County believes a promise is a promise. Vote YES.
Proposed Charter Question 3 enhances the process for citizens to bring initiative petitions. Currently, the gathering of citizen-initiative petitions is halted while government agencies do mandatory reviews, but the 180-day clock allowed for gathering signatures continues to run. This makes it highly unlikely for a citizen-led initiative to make it to the ballot. The proposed change “stops the clock” during these agency reviews, improving the initiative power. Vote YES.
To learn more about the League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida, including extensive information on voting, please visit lwvoc.org and VOTE411.org
The League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida, is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
League of Women Voters of Orange County, FL, P.O. Box 1901, Winter Park, FL 32790, 407-735-6540.
### 9-22-20