Revision Watch Is Compiled by the Constitution Revision Commission
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ConstitutionFLORIDA Revision Commission Issue 7 March/April 1998 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Revision Throughout the and the cabinet serve our citizens. Our Constitution Revision current system in which the governor Watch Commission process essentially has only a lone vote along I have attempted to with the six statewide elected officials A look at the monthly highlights remain as neutral as on the cabinet is unique. It is also and happenings for the Constitution Dexter Douglass possible on most antiquated and ineffective. Revision Commission issues. But when it Thanks to the hard work of Commissioner COMMISSION MEMBERS: comes to Cabinet Reform, I feel compelled Jacinta Mathis and the Executive Dexter Douglass, Chairman to join the fray and lend my support. Committee chaired by Carlos Alfonso, the Carlos J. Alfonso It is past time for the State of Florida Clarence E. Anthony to change the way in which our governor Antonio L. Argiz CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Thomas H. Barkdull, Jr. Martha Walters Barnett Pat Barton Robert M. Brochin COMMISSION SENDS NINE AMENDMENTS TO BALLOT Robert A. Butterworth Kenneth L. Connor lorida’s Constitution Revision ■ The state could continue to sell bonds Chris Corr FCommission has whittled more than to raise money for environmental lands. Ander Crenshaw 500 proposals down to 33 that will go ■ The Game and Fresh Water Fish Valerie W. Evans on the November ballot in the form of Commission and the Marine Fisheries Marilyn Evans-Jones Barbara Williams Ford-Coates nine amendments. Commission would be merged. Ellen Catsman Freidin Included in those amendments to the Education Paul M. Hawkes state constitution are a wide array of ■ The state would be directed to provide William Clay Henderson proposals dealing with personal rights, an “efficient, safe, secure and high Toni Jennings gun control, elections, the environment, Gerald Kogan quality system of education.” education and cabinet reform. Richard Langley ■ Educating children would be described John F. Lowndes The proposed amendments will be as “a paramount duty of the state.” J. Stanley Marshall presented to the Secretary of State on Jacinta Mathis May 5 for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Jon Mills “We’ve had a great day,” said Constitution Frank Morsani Revision Commission Chairman Dexter Robert Lowry Nabors Carlos Planas Douglass following the March 23 meeting Judith Byrne Riley in Tallahassee. “Most of us should be Katherine Fernandez Rundle very happy for the quality of work that In This Issue James A. Scott we’ve done.” H. T. Smith Following is a summary of the nine Commissioners Profiles ..................... 2 Alan C. Sundberg Equal Rights for Women .................... 3 James Harold Thompson proposed amendments that will appear Paul West on the November ballot: Revision Snapshot ............................... 4 Gerald T. Wetherington Environment Message from Chairman cont ........... 4 Stephen Neal Zack Final Proposals ................................ 5-6 ■ State policy to protect natural resources Commission Approves cont............... 6 Alternates: and scenic beauty would be expanded In the News ......................................... 7 Ira H. Leesfield to call for “the conservation and Lyra Blizzard Logan Important Dates ................................. 8 protection of natural resources.” FLORIDA’S CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION 1 CMEMBER O N S T I T U T I O N R E V IPROFILES S I O N C O M M I S S I O N ALAN C. SUNDBERG PAUL WEST STEPHEN NEAL ZACK Appointed By: Chief Justice Appointed By: Speaker Appointed By: Governor Occupation: General Counsel, Occupation: President, Occupation: Attorney, Zack Florida State University Freedom Industries, Inc. Sparber Kosnitzky Spratt & Birth Date and Place: June 23, Birth Date and Place: Brooks, P.A. 1933, Jacksonville December 10, 1951, Birth Date and Place: Dec. 2, Education: LLB from Harvard Fort Campbell, KY 1947, Detroit, MI University, 1958 Education: BS from American Education: JD from University Personal: Spouse, Betty Steffens; Children, Allison Christian College, 1974 of Florida, 1971 Lane, Angela Estes, Laura, Alan Jr., William Personal: Spouse, Anne Personal: Children, Jason, Tracey Public Service: Florida Sentencing Guidelines Address: 6500 S.W. 41st Court Public Service: United Way; Ounce of Prevention; Commission; Committee on Rules of Practice and Davie, FL 33314 President of Florida Bar; University of Florida Law Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United Telephone: 954/316-5888 School, trustee; Orange Bowl Committee; Entertainment States; Committee on Lawyer Qualification and Fax: 954/316-1128 Commission; Ethics Commission, chairman; Conduct U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit; Florida E-Mail: [email protected] Counsel, Gov. Bob Graham Bench/Bar Commission, chairman; Governor’s Address: 100 S.E. 2nd Street Property Rights Study Commission II, chairman; Suite 2800 NationsBank Tower Floridians Against Constitutional Tampering, GERALD T. Miami, FL 33131 chairman; Special Commission on Contingency WETHERINGTON Telephone: 305/539-8400 Fees; Alternate Dispute Resolution Commission Appointed By: Chief Justice Fax: 305/539-1307 Address: Office of the President Occupation: Former chief Florida State University judge, Dade County 211 Westcott Birth Date and Place: July PAT BARTON Tallahassee, FL 32306-1037 14, 1937, Adel, GA Alternate: June 1997- Telephone: 850/644-3300 Education: JD from Duke December 1997 Fax: 850/644-9936 University, 1963 Commissioner: January 1998- E-Mail: [email protected] Public Service: 11th Circuit Court, chief judge, Appointed By: President 1981-91; 11th Judicial Circuit Master Plan Occupation: Retired Realtor - JAMES HAROLD Committee, chairman; Florida Supreme Court associate, drug-prevention THOMPSON Committee on Standard Jury Instructions; Florida and education consultant Supreme Court Committee on Judicial records, Birth Date and Place: July 10, 1940, Evanston, IL Appointed By: Governor chairman; Florida 2nd and 4th District Courts of Education: FSU and Auburn University Occupation: Attorney, Ausley Appeal, associate judge pro tempore; Miami Beach Personal: Spouse, William; Children, Bret, Tracy & McMullen City Manager selection committee Lyons, Berne, five grandchildren Birth date and place: Address: 1215 Alfonso Ave. Public service: Health and Human Services, board November 18, 1944, Mobile, AL Coral Gables, FL 33146 member and past chairman (District 8); District 8 Education: JD from Florida Telephone: 305/374-0650 Juvenile Justice Board, vice chairman; Florida State University, 1969 Fax: 305/374-4933 Health and Human Services, former board member Personal: Spouse, Carolyn; Children, Jason, James, and chairman; Republican Party of Florida, public Lee Anne relations chairman, 1987-91; Naples Informed Public Service: Florida House of Representatives, Parents, founding member, 1978; Florida Republican 1974-86; Speaker of the House, 1985-86; Women, 1985-89, president; YMCA of Collier Governor’s Environmental Land Management Study County, board of directors officer, 1971-78 Commission, chairman, 1992-93; Florida Power Address: 605 Palm Circle East Plant Siting Act task force, vice chairman Address: 227 S. Calhoun St. Naples, FL 34102 Tallahassee, FL 32302 Each issue will highlight six Telephone: 941/262-5648 Telephone: 850/224-9115 members of the Constitution Fax: 941/262-5648 Fax: 850/222-7560 Revision Commission E-Mail: [email protected] 2 FLORIDA’S CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION A CALLING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN t was not that long ago that women in — is a matter of emphasis, and a matter Ithe state of Florida and across the of explicit recognition of equality. country did not have the right to vote. It Traditionally, if we did not have the also was not that long ago that women historical basis for male supremacy in in our state did not have the right to our society, we probably wouldn’t be equal pay, did not have the right to own dealing with this issue today. If women property, and did not have many other always had been allowed to vote, always rights that men have always enjoyed. had been allowed to make decisions for Historically, women have lived in an themselves and always had equal inferior social, economic and political opportunities in employment, this position. additional clause would not be necessary. If you read the Constitution of the state In seeking to assure that this of Florida, you see that there is no amendment did not create a right to express mention of the rights of women. same-sex marriages, the Constitution The rights of men have traditionally Revision Commission’s Style and Drafting derived from our Constitution. In fact, it Committee employed the help of Ann once said that “all men” (not “men and By Ellen Freidin McGinley, a professor for the Florida women” or “all people”) are equal before State University College of Law. the law. The only rights of women “From my research it appears expressly stated in our state are those extremely unlikely that adding sex to mentioned in the statutes. along with all eight others. But we have the list of enumerated protected classes It is past time for the state of Florida come a long way in those 20 years, and would result in same sex marriage in to explicitly recognize in its Constitution I can’t imagine any controversy today Florida,” McGinley reported to the Style the equal rights of women, to protect about assuring equal rights for women and Drafting Committee. “Almost half of and cultivate the equality of women and and men. the states’ Constitutions