By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Petitions for voting on the sale of alcohol in Jacksonville were sent out Thursday. Progress Jacksonville, a special purpose political action committee, asked registered voters in the city of Jacksonville to sign the petitions to weigh in on the issue.
Committee Chair George Douglas said he and his fellow committee members are enthusiastic about petition distribution.
“We think it’s a real step forward for Jacksonville,” Douglas said.
A Progress Jacksonville press release stated two petitions will circulate — one allowing a vote for the legal sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption only, allowing for the sale of beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores, while the other supports the sale of alcohol at state-recognized restaurants without requiring private club memberships.
Package liquor sales will not be permitted, the release stated.
Progress Jacksonville needs 1,000 signatures on each petition within 60 days to call for an election in May. Petitions are available for signing at Brookshire Brothers and Wal-Mart, Douglas said.
“We will shoot for between 1,200 and 1,300 (signatures),” he said. “Some signatures are always disallowed for different reasons, such as if they are not registered Jacksonville voters.”
Douglas said he doesn’t expect a great deal of resistance getting the petitions signed.
But the final proof will come when the petitions are returned, he said.
The next step is already planned, he said.
“After the 60 days, we will turn in the petitions to the county clerk. It’s my understanding the commissioners will vote to put it on the ballot,” Douglas said. “From now on, the process is pretty mechanical.”
Darrell Prcin, Jacksonville Economic Development Corp. president, stated in a press release that ever since the state law changed in 2003 regarding local control of alcohol sales, more than 200 cities in Texas have changed their laws to balance the playing field and keep tax money locally supporting local businesses.
“I think it is important citizens have the right to vote on these issues, and petitions are part of the overall legal process,” Prcin said.
Douglas said an alcohol election in Jacksonville will be about the freedom of retail choice for the citizens and keeping tax dollars in Jacksonville to support the local economy.
“Rusk just approved legal sales and has already reported an increase of 43 percent in their monthly sales tax revenues,” Douglas said. “Some may try to say this is a moral or religious issue, but it is not. After all, Jacksonville is not dry for consuming alcohol, only dry for purchasing it, which means our city is losing valuable tax revenue.”
Progress Jacksonville Treasurer Mark Johnson said he expects to see groups opposing a vote on this issue.
“We expect there will be claims of increased crime or alcohol-related highway fatalities, and I can assure the citizens of Jacksonville I have researched numerous communities that have approved alcohol sales with little or no change in crime,” Johnson said. “We will be contacting the community to share what has happened in other communities because, as concerned citizens of Jacksonville, we want the community to be fully informed so they will feel good about supporting these issues.”
For more information, call Douglas at 903-541-6590.
