Alcohol availability near campus unchanged after vote

A chance for citizens of Smith County Precinct 4 to buy alcohol for off-premise consumption failed, but the legal sale of mixed beverages in some restaurants passed during the local option election May 9.
The complete but unofficial results for Proposition 1 had 1,461 residents or 52.71 percent voting against the bill while 1,311 votes or 47.29 percent voted for the bill.
Proposition 2, calling for the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders passed by 42 votes as 1,400 or 50.76 percent voted for and 1,358 or 49.24 percent against the bill.
Precinct 4 includes parts of Tyler, Winona, New Chapel Hill and Overton, and spans the northeast corner of Smith County.
The precinct is situated at the southern boundary of U.S. Highway 64 – less than two miles from the University – which could have potentially put beer stores within walking distance from the University if the referendum passed.
None of the residence halls or nearby apartment complexes are within the Precinct 4 boundary – and only Precinct 4 voters took part in the special election.
Concerns of whether to allow the legal sale of alcoholic beverages emerged in February when county commissioners called an option election for the legal sale of alcohol in Smith County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4.
Smith County Citizens for Economic Growth, which is the committee for the legal sale of alcohol submitted the 1,509 signatures required to call for an election to Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Cheney in early February.
Cheney verified the authenticity of each signature as a registered voter in the J.P. Precinct 4 boundary.
Residents of Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 cast 3,331 ballots in 19 precincts at 11 voting locations throughout Smith County.
Members of the Keep Precinct 4 Dry Committee gathered at the Smith County Courthouse Annex to watch the results.
“The off-premise consumption was big and they lost both (Precinct 4 and in Winona) and that is good stuff,” Anwar Khalifa, treasurer for the Keep Precinct 4 Dry committee said.
In Winona, the votes came in as a tie for Prop 1 – 94 votes for and 94 votes against. State law says a tie means the proposition fails, which means Winona remains dry, Adrienne Graham, public relations liaison for Smith County said.
“With Prop 2, the only difference is now people do not have to have a membership in restaurants (to purchase alcohol),” Khalifa said.
Andy Osborn, treasurer for Smith County Citizens for Economic Growth, said the loss is due to low voter turnout.
“There’s not a lot of voters that came out, and when we do this again we’re going to go about it differently,” said Osborn. “We’re going to go about it in a way where the voters know exactly where to go, and we’re going to get the message out loud and clear. I felt good about this election, I really did, and next go around we’re going to get this thing done.”
Tyler residents Anwar Khalifa, Tony Watson, Jim Haire, Norman Cagle and Paul Dennis formed the Keep Precinct 4 Dry specific-purpose committee to oppose the sale of beer, wine and all alcoholic beverages for off premise consumption in February.
In April, SCCEG paid $37,500 to Texas Petition Strategies, an out of town consulting firm, and listed two donors, Robbins Osborn and Kyle’s Kwik Stop, owned by Kyle Adams to the Elections Office.
Khalifa said this demonstrates the SCCEG is a one-man show funded by two businesses.
“This group [Texas Petition Strategies] even brags about how successful it has been in the past,” Keep Precinct 4 Dry Committee website said. “While this group says this is all about keeping tax dollars local, we believe this is more about making this group more money.
”The SCCEG announced earlier this month the creation of a steering committee that included 19 area business men and women.
Support for Khalifa’s group came from months of hard work.
“We had people call us wanting to help,” Khalifa said. “One of my customers that I am building a house for right now personally called all of the registered voters in the precinct and in Winona and people stepped up.”
Khalifa reported contributions of $17,451 between April 1 and April 30, according to the Texas Ethics Commission campaign finance report. The committee reported $3,040 in political contributions of $50 or less and $14,411 in total political contributions.
The committee reported $11,730.72 in political expenditures and a balance of $4,720.28 in political contributions.
Smith County Citizens for Economic Growth reported contributions on May 2 of $4,167 from Kyle’s Kwik Stop and $8,333.32 from Robbins Osborn.
Members of the Keep Precinct 4 Dry committee said the election is costly.
“Some say that this election is just about keeping our local tax dollars for ourselves,” Khalifa said. “However, we have done the math. For every $1 million in sales of alcohol, Smith County will receive $5 thousand. So if we assume that this election cost $12 thousand for the county to run, it will take over $2 million in sales of alcohol before the county would even be paid back the cost of this election.”
Khalifa said accomplishing the goals his committee set for the election paid off.
“It is amazing that we did get the votes and we got out there and good men stepped up and we stomped out evil tonight,” Khalifa said. “Without everyone’s help, obviously we would not have been successful. We are thankful that what has happened has happened.”