February 16, 2007

Associated Industries of Florida is proud to announce that one if its members of the Board of Directors, Mark Bostick, was selected by Governor Charlie Crist (R) to serve on the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC).  Below is the official press release from the Governors’ office.  A 1988 constitutional amendment created the TBRC, which met in 1990 for the first time and was scheduled to re-establish every 10 years thereafter. Changes adopted by voters in 1998 changed the commission's next creation date to 2007, to re-establish every 20 years thereafter.  This powerful body is made up of 25 private citizens (11 appointed by the Governor, 7 by the Speaker of the House, 7 by the Senate President, and 4 non-voting members who must be members of the legislature) and is tasked with examining our tax and expenditure laws.  The TBRC can offer recommendations to the Legislature, but it also has the rare ability of being able to take its proposals directly to the voters in the form of proposed constitutional amendments.  The issue of property tax reform is sure to be one of the many topics considered by the Commission.

Mr. Bostick is President of Comcar Industries, Inc.  Headquartered in Auburndale, Florida, the family-owned organization is now one of the largest trucking groups in the United States.  AIF congratulates Mr. Mark Bostick on this important opportunity to serve the people of Florida.

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Crist Appoints 11 to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission
Source: The Executive Office of theGovernor

 TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today appointed 11 members to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

“As public servants it is our responsibility to limit the size of government and return tax dollars to the people,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident this experienced group of professionals will work to ensure that our state government lives within its means.”

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission examines the state budgetary process, revenue needs and expenditure processes of the state. Members analyze Florida’s tax structure as well as governmental productivity and efficiency. The commission reviews policy as it relates to the ability of state and local governments to tax and adequately fund governmental operations.

“This commission is an important element of my goal to increase transparency and accountability in government,” said Governor Crist. “I am eager to review the findings which will undoubtedly provide a deeper understanding of our budget constraints and unveil opportunities to lower taxes for the people of our state.”

The following appointments to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission begin February 16, 2007, and end at the pleasure of the Governor.

Hoyt “Barney” Barnett, 63, of Lakeland, is vice chairman of Publix Super Markets, Inc.  He served as chairman of the Tampa Bay Partnership and as a member the board of the James Madison Institute and Florida TaxWatch.  Mr. Barnett served on the previous Taxation and Budget Reform Commission as well as the Property Tax Reform Committee. 

R. Mark Bostick, 52, of Winter Haven, is the president of Comcar Industries. He previously worked as director of purchasing, vice-president and senior vice-president of Comcar before becoming president in 1989. Mr. Bostick is a member of the Florida Trucking Association, Associated Industries of Florida and the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center Advisory Board.

Martha W. Barnett, 59, of Tallahassee, is a partner in the law firm of Holland & Knight. She previously served on the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission and the Florida Sales Tax on Services Study Commission. Ms. Barnett previously served as president of the American Bar Association.

Roberto “Bobby” Martinez, 53, of Coral Gables, is a shareholder in the Colson Hicks Edison law firm. He formerly served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Miami-Dade College, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and the general counsel of Governor-Elect Jeb Bush’s 1998 Transition Team.  Mr. Martinez served as the chairman of Attorney General-Elect Crist’s Transition Team in 2002 and Governor-Elect Crist’s Transition Team in 2006.

John M. McKay, 58, of Bradenton, is real estate broker and president of John M. McKay, Inc.  He has extensive real estate development, investment and management experience. Senator McKay served in the Florida Senate from 1990-2002, including a term as Senate President.

Robert “Bob” McKee, 57, of Leesburg, is the tax collector for Lake County. He previously served as town manager of Lady Lake and the chief deputy of the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Mr. McKee is a past-president of Hospice of Lake and Sumter, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors for the Lake/Sumter March of Dimes.

Nancy J. Riley, 59, of Clearwater, is a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Pinellas County. She is the president of the Florida Association of Realtors, a member of the Pinellas Suncoast Association of Realtors and the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors.  Ms. Riley serves as a director for the National Association of Realtors and is a graduate of Leadership St. Pete.

Darryl E. Rouson, 51, of St. Petersburg, is an attorney with Rouson and Dudley, P.A. He served as the first African American prosecutor in Pinellas County and the first chairman of the Substance Abuse and Addictions Task Force for the National Bar Association. Mr. Rouson is the immediate past-president of the St. Petersburg NAACP.

James “Jim” A. Scott, 65, of Fort Lauderdale, is an attorney and founding partner of the Tripp, Scott Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 1976 and served more than 24 years, including two terms as chairman of the Appropriations Committee and one term as Senate President. Senator Scott was chairman of the Taxation Committee for the 1998 Constitutional Revision Commission.

William Gregory “Greg” Turbeville, 36, of Tallahassee, is a governmental consultant with Smith and Ballard, Inc.  He served as policy director for Governor Bush and chief of staff for former Florida House of Representatives Speaker John Thrasher.  Mr. Turbeville worked as an economist for the Florida House of Representatives and as a member of the Revenue Estimating Conference under House Speaker Tom Feeney.

Kenneth “Ken” Wilkinson, 62, of Fort Myers, is currently the property appraiser for Lee County. He has served in this position since 1980. Mr. Wilkinson is a veteran of the United States Army Security Agency.

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC) was established by constitutional amendment in 1988 and met for the first time in 1990. Changes adopted by voters in 1998 called for the TBRC to begin deliberations in 2007 and established future meetings to occur every 20 years thereafter.

The commission consists of 29 members, 11 appointed by the Governor, seven appointed by the President of the Senate, seven appointed by the Speaker of the House and four non-voting ex officio members, all of whom are members of the Legislature. Members will begin meeting in early 2007 and must submit any proposed constitutional amendments by May 4, 2008.

The following appointments were made by Senate President Ken Pruitt: Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, Mike Hogan, Jacintha Mathis, Randy Miller, Les Miller, Jade Moore, Susan Story, Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne), and Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Bay Harbor Island).       

The following appointments were made by Speaker of the House Marco Rubio: Allan Bense, Bruce Kyle, Patricia Levesque, Alan Levine, Brian Yablonski, Julia Johnson, Carlos Lacasa, Representative Ray Sansom (R-Fort Walton Beach) and Representative Frank Peterman (D-St. Petersburg).       

Senators Haridopolos and Margolis and Representatives Sansom and Peterman will serve as the four non-voting members. Governor Crist plans to call the first meeting of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission for March 16, 2007, in Tallahassee.