www.theledger.com/article/20071024/NEWS/710240455/1039/ -
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Published on: 10/24/2007
Last Visited: 10/24/2007
Baxter Troutman has a more reserved, wait-and-see attitude on growth.
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Alexander and his younger cousin, Baxter Troutman.
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Troutman, a Republican who occupies the House seat his cousin vacated in 2002, wants most of his family's 200,000 acres to stay in agriculture.
"Everyone keeps talking about development, but look at where we are today in Florida," said Troutman, who has been on Alico's board since 2004.
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Feeling stymied in the family business after his grandfather's death, Troutman started his own staffing services company.Now 40 years old, he's worth about $33 million.
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Unlike Alexander, who chairs key Senate committees and is known for his fundraising prowess, Troutman is a backbencher, never leading a committee or driving major legislation.
Troutman acknowledged his cousin's legislative accomplishments.
"To swim in that fishbowl of sharks and be productive and successful - and he has - speaks to his ability to perform."He repeatedly described Alexander as "cunning."
Though willing to be overshadowed by his cousin in Tallahassee, Troutman is balking at Alexander's growing control over Alico.
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If Alexander becomes an Alico director, Troutman said there would be little resistance left on the board to blunt the push for development.
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Troutman is galled by his odd-man-out status, because he owns a greater number of shares of Alico stock than his cousin.
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"I feel like I'm being held hostage with my own gun," Troutman said.