Real estate attorney Bob Rhodes took aim Wednesday at the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative, saying that turning land-use decisions over to voters will lead to sound-bite-filled campaigns by private interests.

"I think Hometown will produce less informed decisions," he told a crowd of more than 100 people at the University of Florida's Graham Center for Public Service.

Rhodes served as the state's first growth administrator in the early 1970s before working as general counsel to the St. Joe Co. and the development arms of the Walt Disney Co. He currently is an attorney with the Foley and Lardner law firm in Jacksonville.

He spoke against the Hometown Democracy measure, appearing as Amendment 4 on the November ballot. The state constitutional amendment would allow voters to consider changes to comprehensive plans, which guide land-use decisions. County and city commissioners currently make those decisions.

Rhodes acknowledged public frustration that land-use decisions are influenced by special interests. But he argued that Hometown Democracy would further politicize the process, allowing private interests to use their resources to win campaigns. More