Council denies vote on smoking ban

FLORENCE - A split city council killed a proposal to include a smoking ban referendum in the August municipal elections.

Council members Angie Pickens, who sponsored the resolution, Scott Carrier and James Barnhart voted in favor of the resolution.

Pickens had spent the past three years spearheading a community effort for Florence to become smoke-free.

"We have the power to do this, to declare Florence as smoke-free," she said. "How do you not allow the people to decide?"

Councilmen Sam Pendleton, Leland Howard and Hermon Graham voted down the resolution that would have given Florence residents a chance to vote on a smoking ban that included indoor and outdoor public areas.

"I cannot believe that we have Southerners who want the government in their lives," Pendleton said.

He said most smoking ban supporters had consistently talked about banning smoking in restaurants, but hadn't mentioned outdoor areas as part of the ban, what Pendleton called a bait and switch that "smacked of communism."

"The simple fact that you didn't let the people vote, that's dictatorship," later responded Tim Glass, who has regularly spoken at council meetings about a smoking ban.

James Moore, a Tennessee Valley Authority retiree, told Pendleton, "To interfere with any vote by the people smacks of communism," a statement greeted with applause from the audience.

In December 2006, council approved a letter-writing campaign to show support to state legislators who were trying to pass a statewide smoking ban.

Pickens and Carrier voted against sending the letters to the state, preferring to address the issue locally.

Many smoking ban opponents said customers who don't want to patronize a smoking restaurant could let their dollars do the talking instead of votes.

Ban opponent Jason Robnett, a cigar smoker, said, "If you want a smoke-free environment, open up your own restaurant or business."

He said the proposed ban was absolute and did not include any exceptions as several smoking bans have.

Supporters of the ban also came out in full force.

"I believe this council is making a bad decision to protect the citizens who can't protect themselves," said regular meeting attendee the Rev. Billy Ray Simpson. "When people can't make a good judgment, that's when government is supposed to step in."

Valerie Thigpen, chairwoman for the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Shoals, told the council, "I just don't see any negative with having any referendum in August."

"Give the folks a chance to vote and the monkey's off your back," she said to council members, four of whom are seeking elected positions this year.

The meeting took place at 10 a.m. to accommodate Florence High School seniors who were attending as part of the annual Youth in Government Day.

Student reaction to the proposed referendum was mixed.

"I wouldn't vote for the public to vote; something should be left up to the council," said Kaneesha Alexander. "We should let them make the choice because we vote them in to represent us," said the 17-year-old senior.

Stephanole Reed, however, disagreed. "Smoking is bad for you, especially for children. I would let the people vote."

After the council meeting, students held a mock meeting and further discussed the smoking ban referendum.

"I think the young people would be in favor of a ban," said William Pochop, a 17-year-old senior who represented District 5.

Nada Baalbaki, however, another 17-year-old senior, disagreed with the referendum.

"If we had a referendum for everything, there would be no point to have representation," said Baalbaki, who acted as councilwoman from District 1.

After mock council members and concerned students had spoken, the vote was cast, a vote that generated oohs and ahhs from the audience: 4-2 in favor of the smoking ban referendum.

In other city business, the council: