The members of CDITT have concluded after extensive research to put the recall effort on hold. We believe a better use of time and energy is to support a slate of candidates to win office in November who will clean up the mess that has been created for Temple Terrace taxpayers. We also concluded to keep CDITT Recall in place.

August the 2nd, 2005 the City of Temple Terrace conducted a referendum of historic significance. With a vote of 2,605 to 1,960 (57.6% to 42.94%) the referendum to increase property taxes one mil to fund a $20,000,000 bond was rejected. The City officials spent over $50,000 of taxpayer funds to conduct a campaign to persuade the electors to vote yes and over $20,000 of taxpayer funds to conduct the referendum.

Leading up to the August 2nd, 2005 referendum we were told many things by our elected officials. Not the least of which this vote was the most important vote in the history of “our city”. We were told a yes vote was a vote for revitalization and encouraged unabashedly by our elected officials to vote yes. These people were so convinced to push their Torti plan that the Mayor was caught with possession of VOTE NO signs and when the over whelming majority of the electors voted no, the City Council came back less than 60 days later and voted to proceed on a 3 to 2 vote.

$70,000 and almost 60 days later three members of City Council and the Mayor apparently did not understand or would not listen to the majority of our electors. September 27th, 2005 in a 3 to 2 vote, a plan of modest compromise to the overreaching plan that was rejected by the electors was approved by Linda Shattles, Kenneth Holloway and Glenda Venable and the Mayor said this was a good thing.

During the evening of the September 27th ,2005 City Council vote a number of citizens in attendance asked about conducting a recall of these elected officials. In order to conduct the proper research to determine the feasibility of the success of such an action, CDITT Recall, a Political Committee (PC), was formed in accordance with the Florida election laws. If the research yielded an affirmative, CDITT Recall could serve as the organization through which to conduct the recall.

The research took several parallel paths (100.361, AGO and case law are reprinted under the Recall link on www.cditt.com):
1. Review FL Statutes 100.361 to outline the steps
2. Review the on-line Attorney General Opinions (AGO) on recalls
3. Review the case law referenced in the AGO
4. Consult with attorneys
5. Confer with community members of high standing and recognition
6. Conduct informal telephone survey of public opinion.

After completing the interviews and surveys, we concluded the public support was in place and without judicial interruption the recall would take about 120 days based upon FL Statute 100.361. After reviewing the AGO and case law, we conclude it likely the City Attorney would be called upon to contest the recall petition charging the City for billable hours and tying up the recall for another 6 months. In 10 months we will be on the threshold of the November 2006 election cycle.

Personal insults from Editorial Writer Vickie Chachere of the Tribune without conducting an interview or fact finding is a pristine example of irresponsible reporting. To be accused as a troublemaker by Ken Halloway is a fine example of bad political rhetoric from an underperforming elected official. These are but two examples of irrational attempts to limit the exercise of the freedoms offered by the FL Constitution and our State Statutes.

Ken Tozier
President CDITT.COM

FL Statute 100.361

Attorney General Opinion