Liquor sales issue to be on May 1 ballot

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. -- Lawrenceburg voters will not only be selecting new city officials in the May 1 election, but will decide whether to allow liquor sales within city limits.

June Davis, an election official with the Lawrence County Election Commission, said the election commission voted Tuesday to place the referendum on the city election ballot.

"The petition was in order, and the names that were on the petition were certified,'' Davis said.

Tommy Appleton, a supporter of the referendum, said getting the issue in front of the voters was all that organizers wanted.

"This is good news,'' he said of the election commission's decision. "This is what we wanted. This is a chance to allow everyone to exercise their constitutional right and that's to vote.''

The petition seeking the referendum began circulating a few weeks ago and was turned into the election office last week to be certified.

Herby Magee, a Lawrenceburg businessman, said the issue that will be placed on the ballot is not just about liquor.

"This is about keeping the money here, in this county,'' said Magee. "It's a matter of economics. It's not just a liquor issue.

"We're not promoting alcohol; it's something we believe we need for economic growth, and that's how we've approached the whole thing."

Appleton said liquor has never been legally sold in the county or in Lawrenceburg.

"Neighboring cities are taking advantage of receiving our retail sales dollars, sales tax dollars and alcohol tax dollars. These dollars should stay in Lawrenceburg,'' Appleton said.

He said he has contacted Maury and Giles counties, which both have cities allowing liquor sales, and said those sales bring in a combined total of $175,000 annually.

"We're trying to show people who might be interested in moving to Lawrenceburg that we are progressive with our thinking,'' Magee said. "We're not trying to force anything on anyone. This was about giving the people of Lawrenceburg a chance to vote on the issue.''

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.