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Politics & Government

Smoking Ban Ballot Measures Catch Fire Again in St. Charles County

Two groups work toward placing a some form of a smoking ban before St. Charles County voters in November.

Efforts to place before St. Charles County voters some form of countywide smoking ban may be .

A number of bar owners and restaurants are considering starting an initiative petition drive to place a ban on the Nov. 6 ballot.

But if approved, the measure—an amendment to the county charter—would be less restrictive than a ban suggested by a local anti-smoking coalition.

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That coalition has also discussed mounting its own initiative petition drive that would place a stricter ban on the same ballot. .

Two council members also say they may sponsor new bills—one that could be filed as early as April—to let voters decide on some form of smoking ban. and .

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In their ballot proposal, bar and restaurant owners would ask voters to approve allowing allow people to smoke in businesses that are limited to patrons age 21 or older. A “clear and conspicuous” sign saying smoking is allowed would be posted at entrances.

Another exemption would limit smoking to a “ventilated and enclosed area separated from the rest of the building or facility,” according to a draft bill.

Ballot Initiative Petition

Carl Bearden, a former Republican state representative and county councilman from the Harvester area who is organizing a possible petition drive, said a ventilated area for smoking might require bar and restaurant owners to add facilities.

Bearden is executive director of United for Missouri, a nonprofit advocacy organization. The group is trying to preserve the rights of business owners who thought other anti-smoking efforts don’t take those rights into consideration, he said on Wednesday.

The group wants the measure to be an amendment to the county charter, which could not simply be changed by an ordinance passed by the council, he said.

Petition drives do require signatures. More than 18,500 registered voters, equal to 10 percent of the county’s total vote for governor in 2008, are needed for a countywide vote on charter amendment.

The number of signatures for a ballot measure on a county ordinance rather than change in the charter is about half, said County Counselor Joann Leykam.

Bearden said his group has not started a petition effort and has support from about 40 local bars and restaurants including some initial support by Ameristar Casino. Ameristar was exempted in the bill that the council deadlocked over last November. They also would be exempted in the ballot measure because customers have to be age 21 or older to be on a gaming floor.

Two smoking ban proposals?

Others are skeptical of the effort. “It’s like the fox trying to guard the henhouse,” said Stacy Reliford, a field government relations director for the

Reliford said Wednesday that Bearden’s group is merely trying to keep the status quo and doesn’t address a major concern about exposing employees to the harmful effects of smoking.

She said the coalition hasn’t decided yet to mount its own petition drive. One problem is that the coalition doesn’t have the money to pay for petition gathering and there are many other issues on the November ballot, she said.  “There are other ballots,” she said.

What if both measures were on the same ballot and both passed?  Leykam said Wednesday that she’s researching to see which measure would go into effect. Bearden said state law suggests if both measured passed, the one with the most votes would win out.

Another option available remains what the council has been unable to do—place a measure on the ballot themselves without a petition drive. 

Bearden said if the council favors something that takes into account his client’s interests, their petition drive may stop.

County Council member may propose new smoking ban bill

Councilman Jerry Daugherty, District 6, said Wednesday that he’s interested in introducing a bill that would place a measure on the November ballot that would include the exemption for bars, restaurants and other facilities that allow patrons age 21 and older. 

But Councilman Joe Cronin, District 1, who introduced the bill that deadlocked last year, called Bearden’s effort “a joke,” saying they are supported by special interests.

Cronin said Wednesday that Bearden’s effort don’t address the issue of health concerns for workers. The bill also does what happened to a smoking ban in St. Louis County, where there are many exemptions, he said. Bearden, however, said the group’s bill has only a few exemptions, not like St. Louis County.

Cronin said he’s waiting to see what happens with the November general election to see if there are any changes on the council and possibly file a new bill in January 2013.

“I think there could be some changes, people didn’t like seeing voting against a smoking ban,” Cronin said.

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