Judge upholds signature revocation law

Leon County Circuit Judge Charles A. Francis rejected Florida Hometown Democracy's challenge to a new law that allows voters to revoke petition signatures on ballot initiatives.
Political action committee Florida Hometown Democracy challenged the constitutionality of the law allowing revocation of petition signatures. Save Our Constitution, the primary opponent of the group's proposed amendment -- which would require local referendums on future land-use changes -- has used the new law to try to cut the number of signatures its supporters have collected to try to get on the November 2008 ballot.
Save Our Constitution, a committee backed by the Associated Industries of Florida and Florida Hometown Democracy's primary opponent, said the ability of voters to take back their signature is necessary, "especially in light of the tactics of the Hometown Democracy group and its mercenary signature-gatherers."
Florida Hometown Democracy and its leader, Leslie Blackner, did not immediately return calls for comment. The group has the option to appeal.
Supporters need 611,000 signatures to get on the ballot and had nearly 394,000 filed with the state as of Tuesday afternoon.
credited by: bizjournals.com