Alcohol sales may be back on ballot

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscounty.com

They can be seen around town, seeking signatures from registered voters living in Atlanta.
Lonnie Bell, with Texas Petition Strategies, said they need 400 signatures to get a Local Option item on the November general election ballot.
If it makes the ballot, a “yes” vote would allow retailers within the city limits to sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption.
Bell said that they began taking signatures on May 13. He estimated that they should have the signatures by May 27. According to state law, they have 30 days in which to collect the signatures.
Plans, Bell said, are to have tables set up at Wal-Mart and Brookshires. He added that they also intend to walk neighborhood to collect signatures,
Texas Petition Strategies is well known in Northeast Texas for working with local alcohol sales proponents to get the issue before voters.
In 2013 they worked in Linden to get an all-alcohol sales and mixed beverage election passed. In 2014 they were also successful in Gilmer, Pittsburg, Dangerfield and Nash. Bell said they have an 85 percent success rate.
They were not involved in the passage of beer and wines sales earlier this month in Wake Village.
Alcohol sales, regardless of who orchestrated the drive, have had a tougher time in Cass County recently.
In 2014 voters in Queen City turned down a local option for “all beverages”. Six months, ( in 2015) later an attempt at beer and wine for off-premise consumption also failed. Voters in Atlanta turned down beer and wine for off premise consumption in 2015. The vote failed 289-244.
Proponents of the sale point to Nash as an example of how sales can increase the city’s tax base. Last year several churches lobbied against the issue, citing moral societal grounds.