CHEYENNE — A group seeking to stop Cheyenne from implementing a smoking ban in bars, restaurants and other public places filed petitions Monday seeking to place the issue on the ballot in November.
The Cheyenne Coalition for Citizens’ Rights said it had gathered some 3,400 signatures; election officials will have to certify that 2,676 of those are city residents and registered voters in order to put the issue to a vote.
Rich Gibbs, a spokesman for the coalition, said it was important that the people be allowed to vote directly on the smoking ban.
Dan Hatanelas, general manager of DTs Liquor and a backer of the petition drive, said the coalition had worked overtime during the weekend to make sure they had more than enough signatures. “I’m tired of working days, nights and weekends,” he said.
On June 12, the Cheyenne City Council approved an ordinance banning smoking from nearly all public places, including bars and restaurants. Windows and entrances to public places would also be off-limits.
The ban was set to go into effect Aug. 15, but if the Laramie County Clerk’s Office certifies the necessary number of signatures, then the ban will be put on hold until the Nov. 7 election.
In 2004, Laramie passed a similar smoking ban that also ended up before the voters. Voters there narrowly upheld the ban, and a judge rejected an election challenge brought by the ban’s opponents.
