Opponents of Cheyenne’s just-passed smoking ordinance didn’t wait long to mount a counter-attack.
The City Council voted 8-2 to approve the ordinance late Monday night. By Tuesday morning, a group of tavern owners and managers were laying plans for a voter referendum to repeal the ordinance.
“As of right now, we’re just trying to get our information in a row,” said Dan Hatanelas, manager at DTs Liquor Mart. “But the way it sounded to me this morning, yes, (the referendum) is going to happen.”
To stage a referendum, the opponents need signatures from 10 percent of registered city voters, or about 2,670 signatures. And they must file the names within 10 days of official publication of the ordinance, which should happen by the end of the week, according to the city.
If the signature drive is successful, the council could suspend the ordinance until after the vote. Otherwise, the ordinance becomes effective on Aug. 15. City Attorney Mike Basom said he’ll recommend suspension if the signature drive is successful.
Laramie voters upheld a similar ban last year. Casper voters used a referendum to overturn theirs in 2000.
It looks like opponents of the ban will be on their own to promote the referendum. Hatanelas said a spokesperson at Phillip Morris said the tobacco company is not interested in supporting the drive.
Don Pierson, the chief sponsor of the ordinance, said on Tuesday that he always supported a public vote on the measure. In fact, he purposely introduced the ordinance in time for a referendum at the November general election.
“If they majority of the people vote against it, I can live with that, but I feel very strongly that that won’t happen,” Pierson said.
The Smoking ban foes push public vote
Originally written By:By Jared Miller
Star-Tribune capital bureau
Star-Tribune capital bureau
