Gov. Jeb Bush, Jacksonville, FL
From above article:
Bush... says he wants to make growth management a campaign issue when he runs for re-election in 2002.
"This is a powerful issue," Bush said. "I don't think people have connected all the dots yet. They look at it as: "My roads are crowded, or the schools are overcrowded.' They are not looking at it in a comprehensive way."
A year ago, Bush went up against the powerful Florida Homebuilders Association when he declared that communities should simply say no to developers if the local school district is overcrowded...
Bush says his growth management proposal...would require every local community to add a new "intergovernmental coordination" element to its comprehensive plan, requiring school boards and county commissions to plan together for growth.
I think Gov. Bush is very wise to make growth management a major campaign issue.
This is an area of real concern to FL voters, because FL continuously experiences an increase in population, and this non-stop growth impacts schools. There is so much growth in this state's population that as a result of the last census numbers, FL now has two additional electoral votes.
I think all voters in this state would like to see every candidate for governor address this growth management issue. And, the failure of a candidate to promote a responsible and comprehensive plan for growth management will be a huge negative for that candidate -- as it should be.