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Rural Counties Less Showed Less Support for Amendment 1

November 14th, 2014 by Mike Vasilinda

The land and conservation amendment on last weeks ballot got an unprecedented 75 percent of the statewide vote, but voters in rural counties were more likely to say no.

Welcome to Layfayette County, where the population density is just 16 people per square mile. Mayo, the county seat, is 90 miles Southeast of the State Capitol. it is one of two counties where more people voted against land conservation than for it.

Linda Partney,  a yes on 1 voter went to a public forum where the amendment was trashed “Because they thought it would impinge on their property rights” says six year resident of Mayo.

Not only did a majority of people vote no on amendment one, it was heck no. More people here voted for the marijuana than land conservation.

We went to the May cafe to ask why. Retireee Shirley Walker gave us an earful. “I think they are buying up too much land as it is, I mean, it’s getting to where they’re buying more land and we’re having to pay more taxes because there’s not taxes on the land they buy.”

Fishing guide Tom Caldwell agrees. “I’m a Captain and guide and everything’s fine on that.” Q:”so you don’t think we need to spend more money.” “No,  I actually think it’s taking care of itself.”

The trend was similar across the state. While more than half the voters in Lafayette and Holmes county voted no, other rural areas voted far less overwhelmingly than the urban areas. Will Abberger ran the Yes on 1 campaign and says that rural counties just aren’t seeing the sprawl that everyone else is seeing.  “Florida adds 700 new residents everyday, Mike, and those new residents are putting pressure on our water and land resources. Folks in the more rural parts of the state are not, they don’t wake up to that everyday and see those changes in their community.”

The amendment allowing money to be set aside for conservation takes effect in January. The first funding should be available in July.

Rick Scott won Lafayette County with 53 percent of the vote. The Marijuana vote got 49% while land conservation got just 47%.

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