Tobacco.org

• Rowlett voters approve smoking ban  

Rowlett voters decided Saturday that the city will become smoke-free after all. With 10 of 12 precincts reporting, 64 percent of voters supported the smoking ban with 34 percent opposing it.

The city council passed the ban by a 4-3 vote in February. It was scheduled to go into effect May 1, but a group of business owners successfully petitioned to have the issue go before the voters. The referendum was the only issue on the Rowlett ballot.

The owners of The Track Grill and Bar helped start the petition. Co-owner Eric Gigon spent eight hours speaking with voters at the polls Saturday, and he said he is disappointed with the outcome but is prepared to accept the new ordinance.

"Ninety percent of the people that voted don't ever come into any of [the establishments that allow smoking], and they dictated the future of our restaurant, so I'm hoping ... that means they're going to lend their support to us now and start coming out," Gigon said.

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