Past NEFBA President Jerry Linder of St. Augustine is officially on the leadership ladder of the Florida Home Builders Association as he was unanimously elected as the state association's secretary earlier this month at the FHBA Fall Conference in St. Petersburg.

It is the first step on the traditional path to the top. Next comes election to treasurer, then to first vice president.

The new state president is Suzanne Graham, Director of Government Affairs for Massey Services Inc. and a Port Charlotte builder-developer.

In other election news:

• Amendment 4 was soundly beaten, getting only 43 percent of the vote with 60 percent needed. It was backed by the major real estate and construction associations and would have lowered assessment increases on non-homestead purchases and lowered property taxes for new homebuyers.

• Ronnie Fussell, past president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, won election as Duval County Clerk of Court race over three others. Incumbent Jim Fuller was term limited.

• Watson agent Travis Hutson won the newly drawn Florida House of Representatives seat that includes parts of Flagler, St. Johns and Volusia counties. He is the son of D.W. Hutson company founder David Hutson.