Posted on 04/06/2006 10:13:55 AM PDT by SheLion
City voters reject proposal 987-789
Voters in the City of Rhinelander have sent a message that they don't want a smoking ban.
Voters were asked to respond to a referendum question asking if smoking should be prohibited in public places, including restaurants in the city.
City voters opposed the referendum on a 987-789 vote.
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“This is a great day for City of Rhinelander voters who saw this as a rights issue, it's an expression of freedom of choice,” said Rob Swearingen of Be Fair.
“We are pleased with the results,” said Rachelle Ibarra, president of Be Fair.
“Our opponents said that the trend was to ban smoking and that voters would say there would be a ban. Obviously that was not so,” she said.
Bill Vancos, chairman of SAFE (Smoke-free Air For Everyone) said the group is disappointed with the outcome.
“It appears our grassroots effort was just outmatched by the opposition. It is difficult to win any election when your opponent has the resources to outspend you 2 to 1.” Vancos said.
The results of the advisory referendum will now go to the city's Protection of Persons and Property committee at its next meeting.
Committee chairman Doug Weight said “the next logical step is to put it on the agenda of our next regular meeting and review it at that time.
The Protection of Persons and Property committee will meet Monday, April 24.
Swearengen said Be Fair would be represented at that meeting.
Vancos said “a serious health issue ramins and we are still hopeful that the city council will do what is right to protect the welfare of the citizens and visitors by limiting exposure to second-hand smoke. We look forward to the day when Rhinelnader joins the hudnreds of other communities that have already taken steps to protect people's health with clean air.
Vancos said he did not know what the next step will be for SAFE's effort to ban smoking in public places.
Swearingen said the Be Fair group supports a state-wide effort to “level the playing field, so we don't have any islands.”
The anti's won't give up easily though. They are just backing off to regroup. Ugh!
One for us.
Simple - ban non-smokers from places where smoking occurs. Shouldn't cause any problem as they don't want to be around it anyway.
The people have already spoken! Are they just going to keep bringing the issue up until it eventually passes? Sanctimonious SOBs!
Now I'll also think of freedom when Rhinelander is mentioned.
Yes!!! 
Without a doubt! This decision to be left up to the private business owner and his patrons. NOT the City Councils and the governments!
City Councils make me sick! They, too, are becoming power hungry grabbers of human rights. Who are they to say what a private business owner in cities and towns can do? I can't stand City Councils.
Sadly, the legislators will now just pass and law and not ask the silly people.
It's reassuring to know that there are still people who believe in our "rights". I applaud the folks of Rhinelander who saw this issue clearly in spite of all the "smoke and mirrors" used by the anti-smoking nazis.
Way to go Rhinelanders! Down with Prohibitionism, Up with Liberty!
Way to go Rhinelanders! Down with Prohibitionism, Up with Liberty!
Thanks for the ping!
It sure is refreshing!!!!
This is a great victory, without a doubt! Those of us who are familiar with Wisconsin politics don't find this all that much of a surprise though. Rhinelander is about as far from Madison as you can get, in miles anyways. Madison is the San Francisco of the Midwest, but unlike California, Wisconsin is much more conservative outside of Madison. A little less known was a smoking ban proposal being defeated in Steven's Point a few months ago. We aren't all liberals up here in the Great White North!
Ve vill be bahk!
I don't understand why they want to take a second run at it when the voters have spoken.
Well that's obvious ... the voters are misinformed OR misguided. They NEED for the legislators to look out for their best interests! /s
As someone above said...sanctimonious bastards!!
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