Civic Engagement Required: Florida's Erosion of Home Rule

Manatee County has struggled with home‑rule erosion, as state lawmakers steadily take away local authority over wetlands protection, growth management, short‑term rentals, and other community priorities. Each new restriction narrows the county’s ability to craft solutions that fit local needs. As these pressures grow, further control by the state legislature in Tallahassee carries direct consequences for Manatee County’s capacity to govern effectively.

The Suncoast Searchlight article, “D.C. event reveals extremist ties in Florida DOGE’s national push”, highlighted two major concerns: 1. Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sent officials to a Washington, D.C., event that included groups with documented extremist histories, and 2. Florida DOGE’s messaging at the event targeted local governments and home‑rule authority.

During the event, Eric Soskin, director of Florida’s DOGE task force, presented the State DOGE Playbook and encouraged other states to adopt similar approaches. For places like Florida, the playbook suggests DOGE teams consider stripping away local “home rule” power to hand over more decision-making to state lawmakers. Such a strategy could accelerate efforts to centralize authority and further weaken local governance.

For Manatee County, DOGE’s direction could shape how local programs are evaluated, funded, or restricted. Increased state preemption could further limit county control over land use, environmental protections, elections administration, and consumer‑protection ordinances. Local officials may face tighter oversight and fewer options to tailor policies to community needs, making DOGE’s national alliances a direct concern for residents.

Do not risk our community being sidelined. Protecting home rule ultimately requires the active participation of the people who call this community home.

This election season, the League of Women Voters of Manatee County urges every resident to be engaged: learn where the local and state candidates stand on issues affecting home rule, vote in the upcoming primary election in August and the general election in November, and advocate for policies that preserve transparent, accountable, community-centered government.

Democracy is strongest when citizens are heard, and local governments retain the authority to address the unique needs and priorities of the people they serve. When state actions diminish home rule and shift decision-making away from local communities, civic engagement becomes not just important, but essential.