Business & Tech

Ehlmann May Seize 'Teachable Moment;' Now He's Mum on Veto for Smoking Ban Ballot Issue

The county executive says he will decide in 10 days whether he will veto the measure. A veto likely would kill the bill passed by council.

The St. Charles County Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to allow voters to decide whether they would ban smoking in all public buildings, including bars and restaurants.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the issue will make it to the voters.

County Executive Steve Ehlmann still could veto the bill, would make it unlikely to pass.

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“This is a teachable moment,” said Ehlmann, according to a news release Wednesday. ““I am not a mayor. We’re a different branch of government. I did not have a vote on this, and have not had a say on it. I’ve pretty much kept my mouth shut and listened.”

Ehlmann did not immediately return a call from Patch.com Wednesday. He has 10 days to veto or sign the bill. If he does neither, the bill is automatically approved.

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To override Ehlmann’s veto, the council would need at least five votes in favor of the smoking ban ballot issue.

However, barring any changes of heart, the bill seems to have support from just four council members: Joe Cronin, R-District 1, of St. Paul; Nancy Matheny, R-District 3, of Weldon Spring; Terry Hollander, R-District 5, of St. Charles; and John White, R-District 7, of unincorporated St. Charles County.

Opposing the bill are council members Joe Brazil, R-District 2, of Defiance; Paul Wynn, R-District 4, of O’Fallon; and Jerry Daugherty, D-District 6, of Portage de Sioux.

Daugherty said he does not object to a smoking ban, but will not support a bill that provides an exemption for a casino. The bill would exempt St. Charles County only casino, Ameristar, unless casinos in the city of St. Louis and the counties of St. Louis, Jefferson, Madison (Ill.) and St. Clair (Ill.) do not have exemptions.

Wynn was absent, so he did not vote on the bill Tuesday. However, he has steadfastly opposed the bill because he believes it violates property owner rights.

During Tuesday's debate at the council meeting, Cronin said that by passing the bill the council could craft the bill itself. Cronin drafted the bill.

"If there's a petition drive for a charter amendment, we're stuck with whatever we get," Cronin said.


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