Special election could be confusing after commission agrees to retain smoking ban
Jump to full article: Salina (KS) Journal, 2009-06-09
Author: DAVID CLOUSTON Salina Journal
Intro: The effort by opponents of Salina's month-old public smoking ban to get Salina city commissioners to reconsider adding exemptions for bars, private clubs and other establishments ended with a simple two-word benediction from the commissioner responsible for bringing the matter back up for discussion.
"Let's vote," Commissioner Tom Arpke said in referring to Salina voters, who it appears will get the chance to express how they feel about the issue at the ballot box in a special election.
Because the commission chose at Monday's meeting not to repeal the controversial ordinance, the voters themselves will be asked to decide if repeal is warranted.
Opponents say they have enough signatures on a petition to put the question to a special election. . . .
Saline County Clerk Don Merriman said late Monday there's a lot to do to get ready for a special election, which might be sometime in July.
He noted that his office has to verify the signatures on the petitions, and that could be four or five days, depending on the condition of the petitions. He said about 1,390 signatures are needed.
In addition, the wording on the ballot has to be set, ballots printed, machines programmed and delivered to polling places, and more than 100 people have to be hired to work the election.
All of that adds up to about $20,000 to stage the special election, he said.
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