I’m here today to tell you a story this is a true story and I know it’s true
is a true story and I know it’s true
is a true story and I know it’s true because I lived it and I breathed it for
because I lived it and I breathed it for
because I lived it and I breathed it for every day of my life for ten years but I
every day of my life for ten years but I
every day of my life for ten years but I don’t think it started back ten years
don’t think it started back ten years
don’t think it started back ten years ago it really started when I was in the
ago it really started when I was in the
ago it really started when I was in the sixth grade at North Beach Elementary
sixth grade at North Beach Elementary
sixth grade at North Beach Elementary School in Miami and I won a United
School in Miami and I won a United
School in Miami and I won a United States savings bond for writing the best
States savings bond for writing the best
States savings bond for writing the best essay on what democracy means to me and
essay on what democracy means to me and
essay on what democracy means to me and I think that was the first manifestation
I think that was the first manifestation
I think that was the first manifestation of my lifelong passion for improving the
of my lifelong passion for improving the
of my lifelong passion for improving the operation of government so the story
operation of government so the story
operation of government so the story that I’m going to tell you is one of
that I’m going to tell you is one of
that I’m going to tell you is one of very ugly backroom deals political greed
very ugly backroom deals political greed
very ugly backroom deals political greed and political entitlement but it’s also
and political entitlement but it’s also
and political entitlement but it’s also a story of citizens coming together to
a story of citizens coming together to
a story of citizens coming together to pull back the curtain on that kind of
pull back the curtain on that kind of
pull back the curtain on that kind of behavior in the last 50 years there had
behavior in the last 50 years there had
behavior in the last 50 years there had been many attempts to solve this problem
been many attempts to solve this problem
been many attempts to solve this problem and I had been involved in some of those
and I had been involved in some of those
and I had been involved in some of those later attempts and when the last effort
later attempts and when the last effort
later attempts and when the last effort failed I said to myself I’ve got to get
failed I said to myself I’ve got to get
failed I said to myself I’ve got to get involved maybe I can make a difference
involved maybe I can make a difference
involved maybe I can make a difference and so I dove in headfirst
suddenly ten years have passed and in
suddenly ten years have passed and in those ten years I found that I had been
those ten years I found that I had been
those ten years I found that I had been involved in a political battle with the
involved in a political battle with the
involved in a political battle with the establishment in Tallahassee and in
establishment in Tallahassee and in
establishment in Tallahassee and in Washington but also in those 10 years
Washington but also in those 10 years
Washington but also in those 10 years Florida had become a model for other
Florida had become a model for other
Florida had become a model for other states and we now had a real chance to
states and we now had a real chance to
states and we now had a real chance to have real representative democracy in
have real representative democracy in
have real representative democracy in our state the major problem had been
our state the major problem had been
our state the major problem had been solved so what was the problem the
solved so what was the problem the
solved so what was the problem the problem was gerrymandering it’s been
problem was gerrymandering it’s been
problem was gerrymandering it’s been happening for centuries in our state
happening for centuries in our state
happening for centuries in our state in our country you know every 10 years
in our country you know every 10 years
in our country you know every 10 years after the census legislatures all around
after the census legislatures all around
after the census legislatures all around the country redraw district lines
the country redraw district lines
the country redraw district lines supposedly doing that for the purpose of
supposedly doing that for the purpose of
supposedly doing that for the purpose of accommodating shifts in population but
accommodating shifts in population but
accommodating shifts in population but in reality what they’re doing is they’re
in reality what they’re doing is they’re
in reality what they’re doing is they’re rigging districts to perpetuate their
rigging districts to perpetuate their
rigging districts to perpetuate their own power and that of certain incumbents
own power and that of certain incumbents
own power and that of certain incumbents who they favor politicians go to
who they favor politicians go to
who they favor politicians go to unthinkable lengths I learned to grab
unthinkable lengths I learned to grab
unthinkable lengths I learned to grab power and then to hold on to it they’re
power and then to hold on to it they’re
power and then to hold on to it they’re actually choosing their own voters
actually choosing their own voters
actually choosing their own voters rather than giving us the voters the
rather than giving us the voters the
rather than giving us the voters the opportunity to select representatives of
opportunity to select representatives of
opportunity to select representatives of our choice so this used to be legal in
our choice so this used to be legal in
our choice so this used to be legal in our state and as we’re speaking the
our state and as we’re speaking the
our state and as we’re speaking the United States Supreme Court is
United States Supreme Court is
United States Supreme Court is considering whether to make it illegal
considering whether to make it illegal
considering whether to make it illegal in other states as well so how did they
in other states as well so how did they
in other states as well so how did they used to do it
used to do it
used to do it legislators draw district lines they
legislators draw district lines they
legislators draw district lines they packed large numbers of opposition
packed large numbers of opposition
packed large numbers of opposition voters into about a third of the
voters into about a third of the
voters into about a third of the districts and then they spread their
districts and then they spread their
districts and then they spread their favorable voters into the other
favorable voters into the other
favorable voters into the other two-thirds with all with safe majorities
two-thirds with all with safe majorities
two-thirds with all with safe majorities thus they’re securing a perpetual
thus they’re securing a perpetual
thus they’re securing a perpetual supermajority in our 50/50 state the
supermajority in our 50/50 state the
supermajority in our 50/50 state the impact on Florida was tremendous cities
impact on Florida was tremendous cities
impact on Florida was tremendous cities and counties were split look at Winter
and counties were split look at Winter
and counties were split look at Winter Park Florida a town of eight square
Park Florida a town of eight square
Park Florida a town of eight square miles 24,000 population they had four
miles 24,000 population they had four
miles 24,000 population they had four different members of Congress
different members of Congress
different members of Congress representing them and then the districts
representing them and then the districts
representing them and then the districts were also very bizarrely shaped some of
were also very bizarrely shaped some of
were also very bizarrely shaped some of you will recognize that there was a
you will recognize that there was a
you will recognize that there was a district that started in Jacksonville
district that started in Jacksonville
district that started in Jacksonville and made its way all the way down to
and made its way all the way down to
and made its way all the way down to Orlando sometimes it wasn’t wider than a
Orlando sometimes it wasn’t wider than a
Orlando sometimes it wasn’t wider than a highway and then there was a Senate
highway and then there was a Senate
highway and then there was a Senate district in southern Florida that went
district in southern Florida that went
district in southern Florida that went from coast to coast from Palm Beach to
from coast to coast from Palm Beach to
from coast to coast from Palm Beach to Fort Myers
Fort Myers
Fort Myers connected by a thin strip that just went
connected by a thin strip that just went
connected by a thin strip that just went through the bottom of Lake Okeechobee
through the bottom of Lake Okeechobee
through the bottom of Lake Okeechobee districts like this should have been
districts like this should have been
districts like this should have been compact and community based but they
compact and community based but they
compact and community based but they were drawn to create a predetermined
were drawn to create a predetermined
were drawn to create a predetermined electoral outcome on Election Day but
electoral outcome on Election Day but
electoral outcome on Election Day but the worst impact was that when districts
the worst impact was that when districts
the worst impact was that when districts are rigged to be sure wins for one party
are rigged to be sure wins for one party
are rigged to be sure wins for one party or the other there are rarely challenges
or the other there are rarely challenges
or the other there are rarely challenges from across the aisle representatives
from across the aisle representatives
from across the aisle representatives are elected in their primaries and they
are elected in their primaries and they
are elected in their primaries and they have no motivation whatsoever to come to
have no motivation whatsoever to come to
have no motivation whatsoever to come to the center and find solutions for the
the center and find solutions for the
the center and find solutions for the common good so there was only one
common good so there was only one
common good so there was only one possible solution to this problem we had
possible solution to this problem we had
possible solution to this problem we had to have strict rules to limit the
to have strict rules to limit the
to have strict rules to limit the legislature when they draw those
legislature when they draw those
legislature when they draw those district lines but we knew politicians
district lines but we knew politicians
district lines but we knew politicians would never establish such rules and
would never establish such rules and
would never establish such rules and limit themselves so the citizens had to
limit themselves so the citizens had to
limit themselves so the citizens had to take matters into our own hands we had
take matters into our own hands we had
take matters into our own hands we had to amend the Florida Constitution to say
to amend the Florida Constitution to say
to amend the Florida Constitution to say that this is a daunting task is a gross
that this is a daunting task is a gross
that this is a daunting task is a gross understatement it’s a very arduous
understatement it’s a very arduous
understatement it’s a very arduous process first you have to draft language
process first you have to draft language
process first you have to draft language and the Supreme Court of Florida has
and the Supreme Court of Florida has
and the Supreme Court of Florida has very strict legal rules for how the
very strict legal rules for how the
very strict legal rules for how the language has to be drafted so we
language has to be drafted so we
language has to be drafted so we assembled a team of expert lawyers from
assembled a team of expert lawyers from
assembled a team of expert lawyers from all over the state and that team worked
all over the state and that team worked
all over the state and that team worked for over a year and a half to get the
for over a year and a half to get the
for over a year and a half to get the language just right but we also had to
language just right but we also had to
language just right but we also had to make sure that our language was clear
make sure that our language was clear
make sure that our language was clear and understandable to the voters and so
and understandable to the voters and so
and understandable to the voters and so we conducted some polling and we
we conducted some polling and we
we conducted some polling and we conducted some focus groups and with the
conducted some focus groups and with the
conducted some focus groups and with the results of that research we refined the
results of that research we refined the
results of that research we refined the language even further and finally we
language even further and finally we
language even further and finally we were eligible for Supreme Court review
were eligible for Supreme Court review
were eligible for Supreme Court review and wouldn’t you know it the Florida
and wouldn’t you know it the Florida
and wouldn’t you know it the Florida Legislature showed up in court to oppose
Legislature showed up in court to oppose
Legislature showed up in court to oppose our amendments being on the ballot
finally three years after
finally three years after during this project the Supreme Court of
during this project the Supreme Court of
during this project the Supreme Court of Florida approved our language and we
Florida approved our language and we
Florida approved our language and we were cleared to go on to the next step
were cleared to go on to the next step
were cleared to go on to the next step well the next step was a tough one we
well the next step was a tough one we
well the next step was a tough one we had to gather 1.6 million verifiable
had to gather 1.6 million verifiable
had to gather 1.6 million verifiable signatures each signature on a separate
signatures each signature on a separate
signatures each signature on a separate piece of paper do you have any idea how
piece of paper do you have any idea how
piece of paper do you have any idea how much paper that is once we had the
much paper that is once we had the
much paper that is once we had the signatures we ran a full-blown media and
signatures we ran a full-blown media and
signatures we ran a full-blown media and voter contact campaign we included TV
voter contact campaign we included TV
voter contact campaign we included TV radio direct mail door-to-door
radio direct mail door-to-door
radio direct mail door-to-door communications social media but one of
communications social media but one of
communications social media but one of the keys to our success was that we had
the keys to our success was that we had
the keys to our success was that we had the support at every step along the way
the support at every step along the way
the support at every step along the way of this project of every single
of this project of every single
of this project of every single newspaper in the state of Florida so who
newspaper in the state of Florida so who
newspaper in the state of Florida so who was we we were the fair district
was we we were the fair district
was we we were the fair district coalition our coalition was made up of
coalition our coalition was made up of
coalition our coalition was made up of dozens of non partisan organizations
dozens of non partisan organizations
dozens of non partisan organizations literally thousands of people all of
literally thousands of people all of
literally thousands of people all of whom felt really passionately about the
whom felt really passionately about the
whom felt really passionately about the need to bring real representative
need to bring real representative
need to bring real representative democracy to Florida and I had the
democracy to Florida and I had the
democracy to Florida and I had the privilege of leading this coalition so
privilege of leading this coalition so
privilege of leading this coalition so once our amendments were on the ballot
once our amendments were on the ballot
once our amendments were on the ballot the legislature clearly demonstrated
the legislature clearly demonstrated
the legislature clearly demonstrated that they had no intention of allowing
that they had no intention of allowing
that they had no intention of allowing citizens to tell them what to do first
citizens to tell them what to do first
citizens to tell them what to do first thing they did was they appeared in
thing they did was they appeared in
thing they did was they appeared in court to try and have our amendments
court to try and have our amendments
court to try and have our amendments removed from the ballot then they held
removed from the ballot then they held
removed from the ballot then they held official legislative meetings with no
official legislative meetings with no
official legislative meetings with no purpose other than to bring in speakers
purpose other than to bring in speakers
purpose other than to bring in speakers to discredit our amendments and then
to discredit our amendments and then
to discredit our amendments and then they voted on what we called a poison
they voted on what we called a poison
they voted on what we called a poison pill amendment to put that on the ballot
pill amendment to put that on the ballot
pill amendment to put that on the ballot in order to try and trick the Florida
in order to try and trick the Florida
in order to try and trick the Florida voters when in fact if that amendment
voters when in fact if that amendment
voters when in fact if that amendment had passed it would have eviscerated the
had passed it would have eviscerated the
had passed it would have eviscerated the meaning of the fair districts amen
meaning of the fair districts amen
meaning of the fair districts amen we had to retain lawyers go to court
we had to retain lawyers go to court
we had to retain lawyers go to court explain how this was misleading and
explain how this was misleading and
explain how this was misleading and thankfully the courts agreed and removed
thankfully the courts agreed and removed
thankfully the courts agreed and removed the Legislature’s amendment from the
the Legislature’s amendment from the
the Legislature’s amendment from the ballot when all these other efforts of
ballot when all these other efforts of
ballot when all these other efforts of the legislature had failed the
the legislature had failed the
the legislature had failed the legislators and their political cronies
legislators and their political cronies
legislators and their political cronies they went out and they raised four and a
they went out and they raised four and a
they went out and they raised four and a half million dollars to run an ad
half million dollars to run an ad
half million dollars to run an ad campaign against our amendments so I
campaign against our amendments so I
campaign against our amendments so I guess you’re all on pins and needles
guess you’re all on pins and needles
guess you’re all on pins and needles what happened
what happened
what happened I November 2nd 2010 the fair district
I November 2nd 2010 the fair district
I November 2nd 2010 the fair district amendments prevailed democracy prevailed
amendments prevailed democracy prevailed
amendments prevailed democracy prevailed and we won with 63% of the vote Florida
and we won with 63% of the vote Florida
and we won with 63% of the vote Florida now has a constitutional framework for
now has a constitutional framework for
now has a constitutional framework for fair redistricting not the end of the
fair redistricting not the end of the
fair redistricting not the end of the story while we were celebrating on
story while we were celebrating on
story while we were celebrating on election night our opponents were busy
election night our opponents were busy
election night our opponents were busy getting ready to file a
getting ready to file a
getting ready to file a middle-of-the-night lawsuit in federal
middle-of-the-night lawsuit in federal
middle-of-the-night lawsuit in federal court to try and have the new
court to try and have the new
court to try and have the new constitutional language held
constitutional language held
constitutional language held unconstitutional under the Federal
unconstitutional under the Federal
unconstitutional under the Federal Constitution
well we eventually won that lawsuit but
well we eventually won that lawsuit but this started a whole new phase of our
this started a whole new phase of our
this started a whole new phase of our quest our amendments were in the
quest our amendments were in the
quest our amendments were in the Constitution but now we had to go to
Constitution but now we had to go to
Constitution but now we had to go to court to defend them and make sure they
court to defend them and make sure they
court to defend them and make sure they were properly implemented meanwhile back
were properly implemented meanwhile back
were properly implemented meanwhile back in Tallahassee those entrenched
in Tallahassee those entrenched
in Tallahassee those entrenched politicians were determined to continue
politicians were determined to continue
politicians were determined to continue rigging districts even if it meant
rigging districts even if it meant
rigging districts even if it meant violating the Constitution they held a
violating the Constitution they held a
violating the Constitution they held a clandestine meeting just a month after
clandestine meeting just a month after
clandestine meeting just a month after the election they brought in legislative
the election they brought in legislative
the election they brought in legislative leaders legislative staff they brought
leaders legislative staff they brought
leaders legislative staff they brought in
in
in partisan lawyers and partisan political
partisan lawyers and partisan political
partisan lawyers and partisan political operatives not only from Tallahassee but
operatives not only from Tallahassee but
operatives not only from Tallahassee but also from Washington DC to develop an
also from Washington DC to develop an
also from Washington DC to develop an elaborate scheme they wanted to appear
elaborate scheme they wanted to appear
elaborate scheme they wanted to appear to be following the fair districts
to be following the fair districts
to be following the fair districts amendment but really they had full
amendment but really they had full
amendment but really they had full intention of drawing maps in backrooms
intention of drawing maps in backrooms
intention of drawing maps in backrooms and passing them and so that their maps
and passing them and so that their maps
and passing them and so that their maps would continue to favor their party and
would continue to favor their party and
would continue to favor their party and certain incumbents as one court said
certain incumbents as one court said
certain incumbents as one court said they were conspiring to make a mockery
they were conspiring to make a mockery
they were conspiring to make a mockery of the fair districts amendments so they
of the fair districts amendments so they
of the fair districts amendments so they held 26 public hearings all around the
held 26 public hearings all around the
held 26 public hearings all around the state and they announced at each
state and they announced at each
state and they announced at each hearings we are gonna have the most open
hearings we are gonna have the most open
hearings we are gonna have the most open and transparent and interactive
and transparent and interactive
and transparent and interactive redistricting process ever in the United
redistricting process ever in the United
redistricting process ever in the United States of America but at the same time
States of America but at the same time
States of America but at the same time the very time that those words were
the very time that those words were
the very time that those words were coming out of their mouths in backrooms
coming out of their mouths in backrooms
coming out of their mouths in backrooms there were paid partisan map drawers
there were paid partisan map drawers
there were paid partisan map drawers again in Tallahassee in Washington
again in Tallahassee in Washington
again in Tallahassee in Washington drawing maps to retain their
drawing maps to retain their
drawing maps to retain their supermajority dominance in our 50-50
supermajority dominance in our 50-50
supermajority dominance in our 50-50 state and once they had those elicit
state and once they had those elicit
state and once they had those elicit maps drawn they had to figure out a way
maps drawn they had to figure out a way
maps drawn they had to figure out a way to slip them into the legislature and so
to slip them into the legislature and so
to slip them into the legislature and so they developed a scheme to submit the
they developed a scheme to submit the
they developed a scheme to submit the maps under phony names to try and make
maps under phony names to try and make
maps under phony names to try and make it look like random members of the
it look like random members of the
it look like random members of the public had drawn those maps rather than
public had drawn those maps rather than
public had drawn those maps rather than who really drew them the paid political
who really drew them the paid political
who really drew them the paid political operatives those final 2012 maps were as
operatives those final 2012 maps were as
operatives those final 2012 maps were as gerrymandered and biased as any that had
gerrymandered and biased as any that had
gerrymandered and biased as any that had ever been passed in Florida before and
ever been passed in Florida before and
ever been passed in Florida before and this led to three and a half more years
this led to three and a half more years
this led to three and a half more years of scorched earth litigation now we knew
of scorched earth litigation now we knew
of scorched earth litigation now we knew that those maps were terribly
that those maps were terribly
that those maps were terribly gerrymandered but in order to have those
gerrymandered but in order to have those
gerrymandered but in order to have those maps set aside we
maps set aside we
maps set aside we had to prove that in court so to hide
had to prove that in court so to hide
had to prove that in court so to hide their actions the legislature actually
their actions the legislature actually
their actions the legislature actually destroyed all of their internal
destroyed all of their internal
destroyed all of their internal redistricting documents and
redistricting documents and
redistricting documents and communications of course that made it
communications of course that made it
communications of course that made it very hard for us to prove our case
very hard for us to prove our case
very hard for us to prove our case but amazingly one of the conspirators
but amazingly one of the conspirators
but amazingly one of the conspirators came forward with the truth and opened
came forward with the truth and opened
came forward with the truth and opened the door for us to be able to prove our
the door for us to be able to prove our
the door for us to be able to prove our case
case
case so after scores of depositions after
so after scores of depositions after
so after scores of depositions after dozens of hearings and weeks of trial
dozens of hearings and weeks of trial
dozens of hearings and weeks of trial with eight major decisions from the
with eight major decisions from the
with eight major decisions from the Florida Supreme Court the courts ruled
Florida Supreme Court the courts ruled
Florida Supreme Court the courts ruled that the Congressional Mac had been
that the Congressional Mac had been
that the Congressional Mac had been drawn illegally and then another amazing
drawn illegally and then another amazing
drawn illegally and then another amazing thing happened the Florida Senate in
thing happened the Florida Senate in
thing happened the Florida Senate in court confessed that it too had drawn
court confessed that it too had drawn
court confessed that it too had drawn its map illegally and that it had
its map illegally and that it had
its map illegally and that it had violated the Constitution so the court
violated the Constitution so the court
violated the Constitution so the court ordered the legislatures to redraw it to
ordered the legislatures to redraw it to
ordered the legislatures to redraw it to go back into special session to redraw
go back into special session to redraw
go back into special session to redraw their maps and the legislators did that
their maps and the legislators did that
their maps and the legislators did that but they couldn’t agree on
but they couldn’t agree on
but they couldn’t agree on constitutional maps and that left it to
constitutional maps and that left it to
constitutional maps and that left it to the courts to select from maps that were
the courts to select from maps that were
the courts to select from maps that were submitted by the various parties in the
submitted by the various parties in the
submitted by the various parties in the end the courts found that the maps
end the courts found that the maps
end the courts found that the maps submitted by the fair districts
submitted by the fair districts
submitted by the fair districts coalition best complied and should be
coalition best complied and should be
coalition best complied and should be used in 2016 and beyond this was a
used in 2016 and beyond this was a
used in 2016 and beyond this was a complete and total victory for the
complete and total victory for the
complete and total victory for the citizens of Florida we now have
citizens of Florida we now have
citizens of Florida we now have districts in our state that are compact
districts in our state that are compact
districts in our state that are compact and community based and not drawn to
and community based and not drawn to
and community based and not drawn to favor any political party or politician
favor any political party or politician
favor any political party or politician so
so
so all we were tryin to do was to make
all we were tryin to do was to make
all we were tryin to do was to make democracy work better in our state and
democracy work better in our state and
democracy work better in our state and yet we had this very vicious opposition
yet we had this very vicious opposition
yet we had this very vicious opposition the Florida Legislature all its public
the Florida Legislature all its public
the Florida Legislature all its public resources and all its cronies but this
resources and all its cronies but this
resources and all its cronies but this time the people prevailed over politics
time the people prevailed over politics
time the people prevailed over politics but now you’ve heard about the length
but now you’ve heard about the length
but now you’ve heard about the length that some politicians will go to to
that some politicians will go to to
that some politicians will go to to preserve their ill-gotten power and to
preserve their ill-gotten power and to
preserve their ill-gotten power and to try and fool us the people of Florida I
try and fool us the people of Florida I
try and fool us the people of Florida I urge every one of you to remain vigilant
urge every one of you to remain vigilant
urge every one of you to remain vigilant and to get involved and never ever again
and to get involved and never ever again
and to get involved and never ever again allow elected officials to put their
allow elected officials to put their
allow elected officials to put their interests ahead of our democracy thank
interests ahead of our democracy thank
interests ahead of our democracy thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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