LIVING DEMOCRACY IN THEORY AND PRACTICE: GETTING DIRTY IN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT INCORPORATION PROCESS THOMAS A. BRYER University of Central Florida ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank Dr. XiaoHu Wang, Ms. Marilyn Crotty with the UCF Institute of Government, and research assistance from Conrad Garrison, Charlotte Merritt, Valerie Murphy, and Maritza Concha, for their individual and collect support of the public participation process design and implementation described in the article. ABSTRACT Poinciana, Florida is a growing community in Central Florida. The master homeowners association contracted for an incorporation feasibility study to determine whether Poinciana could survive as a city. This article describes the public participation process designed and implemented as part of the feasibility study and articulates the goals, principles, and venues of the design, the challenges or barriers confronted, and suggestions for revisions to statutory guidelines for incorporation are described with the purpose of moving towards the institutionalization of public participation as a cultural norm. INTRODUCTION “We want your passion and your questions, and we want you to get your hands dirty and not be afraid to come into this process, to really take the reigns on the future of Poinciana. That’s what we want from you.” – Statement from the author at a Town Hall meeting, addressing Citizens