Measure falls 800 signatures shy
JARED MILLER Star-Tribune capital bureau | Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 12:00 am
CHEYENNE-Cheyenne's new public smoking ban will take affect as scheduled on Aug. 15 after an effort to overturn the ordinance fell short.
City Clerk Carol Intlekofer announced Tuesday that opponents of the measure failed to gather enough valid signatures to force a voter referendum.
Intlekofer and her staff were able to verify just 1,876 of the 3,403 signatures submitted by a group called Cheyenne Coalition for Citizens Rights. About 2,690 valid signatures n 10 percent of registered city voters -- were required for a public vote.
City Councilman Don Pierson, chief sponsor of the ordinance, said his feelings about the failed petition drive are mixed. He has long supported a public vote on the ban.
"But the mere fact that they came up that short of getting legitimate signatures to take it to the ballot kind of tells me what the vote would have been anyway," Pierson said.
Opponents of the ordinance immediately vowed to work against reelection campaigns by City Council members who supported the ban.
"We feel that certain businesses should be exempted from the ban," said Jeff Goins, chairman of the Cheyenne Coalition for Citizens Rights.
The ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to smoke tobacco in all public buildings, including bars and private clubs. It exempts retail tobacco shops.
Police Chief Bob Fecht said he doesn't anticipate problems enforcing the measure. He said smokers who mistakenly break the law initially will receive warnings.
Laramie is the only other Wyoming town to adopt a smoke-free ordinance. Casper voters rejected a ban in 2000. Two prominent state lawmakers have said they believe a statewide smoking ban is possible in Wyoming, but not for many years.
Reach Star-Tribune capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or at {M3jared.miller@casperstartribune.net.