Freedom Driver

Ryan Houck may forever be known as the mastermind of the campaign that killed Amendment 4 - a constitutional amendment that mandated voters approve changes to a local government's comprehensive plan. Business interests feared the over-reaching growth control measure would destroy 250,000 jobs.

With that victory in his past, Houck sees more roadblocks to economic freedom ahead, which is why he chose to lead Free Market Florida, a Tampa-based “free market watchdog” advocacy group. It's the successor organization to Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, the lead organization for last year's “Vote No on 4” campaign.

In leading that effort, Houck — a 2006 Rollins College political science grad — formed a coalition of more than 320 campaign partners, 15,000 Facebook fans, 4,000 volunteers and nearly 15,000 industry advocates. He has expanded his use of new media in his new role to include Twitter and more video links. “One of the most innovative tools there is, is video technology,” Houck says. “That's an important part of the way we communicate and more important in the next few years.”