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Paper Questions Governmental Structure of Ave Maria, Florida

By Howard M. Friedman

Beginning this week end, the Naples (FL) Daily News is running a lengthy 3-part investigative series titled Ave Maria: A Town Without a Vote. According to the article, when legislation creating the new town surrounding Catholic Ave Maria University was enacted, it also contained unusual provisions giving ongoing control to the town's founder, former Domino Pizza owner Tom Monaghan, and and to local landowner Barron Collier Cos. The paper reports: "The law makes landowners, not registered voters, the ultimate authority in Ave Maria. The law ensures Monaghan and Barron Collier Cos., as the largest landowners, can control Ave Maria?s government forever." The web page linking to the series also contains links to numerous primary source documents relating to the governmental structure of the town, and to its legality. [Thanks to Liam Dillon for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 10, 2009 (boomark / email).