Beruff Says Constitutional Revision Commission Will be Transparent Throughout Process

BRADENTON – Carlos Beruff, Manatee County developer and newly appointed Chair of Florida's Constitutional Revision Commission, said on Monday that the public will be heard as the CRC goes through the process of deciding whether to revise any of the state's constitutional amendments.

”Every member of the CRC will have the opportunity to be heard and have the chance to fight for the issues they believe are important to this state. Most importantly, though, we need to listen to the citizens," said Beruff during the meeting, per a report by the Palm Beach Post.

The meeting is the first for the commission since 1997. Three public hearings are scheduled: a March 29 meeting in Orange County, an April 6 meeting in Miami-Dade County, and an April 7 meeting in Palm Beach County.

Beruff said during the meeting that it proposing revisions that would be unpopular with the public would be unlikely. "I think it’s a fool’s errand to propose ideas that we don’t think the public is going to support. And we know the threshold for (amending) the Constitution is 60 percent," he said.

Per Beruff, part-time residents of Florida would have a say in the process along with full-time residents.

The commission, he said, would look through revisions proposals later in the year, after autumn.

Beruff was appointed to the commission in February by Gov. Rick Scott, a long-time ally of the local developer.