After watching the Daily Times / Friends of the Public Library forum, I think I have better idea about the personalities of the city council candidates and where they stand on the issue of a public smoking ban.
Barb Strand was the most sympathetic to the idea of a public smoking ban. She’s the only one who came right out and said she supports a statewide ban. Almost everyone else said if it were to be done, it should be done at the state level … but no one else openly endorsed the concept.
I see why people like Rusty Dunn. He’s a good public speaker and has that easy charm that makes him a likable guy. Of course he broke his spell with me when he mocked the idea of a public smoking ban as something that’s not worthy of political attention at all – “I guess they have nothing better to do in Springfield.” That got a big laugh from the crowd. Hopefully his dismissive attitude and the response from the crowd are simply ignorance, because I fail to find the humor in the deaths of at least 30,000 people per annum.
Chad Schmidgall certainly seemed like he would keep an open mind and would support a ban if he felt that it was the will of the citizens. I’m pretty sure Jason Juchems would do the same, although he was more open in his support of the smaller government / free choice concept.
I doubt Richmond, Jones or Abel would ever support a local ban unless there seemed to be overwhelming public support behind the idea. I doubt Maddox would support it either, although he wasn’t at the forum to answer the question. I have a feeling that the Old Boys have too many local business connections to get behind the idea.
6 responses so far ↓
1
chad
// Apr 6, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Just to clarify, personally I do support the ban, especially if there is an allowance for bars(my wife is allergic to cigarette smoke, and my baby was premature, so avoiding smoke on her tiny lungs is hugely important to my wife and I). However, its not my job to push my personal preference. Its my job to respond to the citizens. So if the citizens come to the council meetings and let it be known a ban is what they want, then I would vote for it. Again, I won’t push to get it on the mayoral agenda unless the citizens want it, and I would vote for it.
2
Brian A. Graham
// Apr 6, 2007 at 10:23 pm
It isn’t so much an “ol’ Boys” connection as much as it is fear. As you are aware, we had a very close Mayoral election last time out. The margin of victory wasn’t so much that a candidate’s GOTV was less than stellar, but that a downtown liquor license holder had taken bits and pieces from different council meetings and convinced patrons and other liquor license holders that their licenses would increase from $1,200.00 a year. (roughly the profit of two cases of beer a month, or a single bottle of spirits.) Not exactly an onerous burden and a license in Pekin is low compared to other cities. This episode is really quite interesting when you consider the histories of some of the individuals involved. Let’s just say some people had axes to grind.
3
Ryan Johnson
// Apr 7, 2007 at 3:14 pm
OR…they just realize it’s a stupid idea and the government shouldn’t make personal choices for us.
btw, I’m a non-smoker, never smoked ANYTHING, but I do not and will never support a government ban on a legal product.
You want the government to ban smoking in bars, yet alcohol is just as unhealthy for you and can be even more dangerous to innocent people…why not outlaw alcohol in bars too?
4
knightindragonland
// Apr 7, 2007 at 10:54 pm
(SIGH) Man, the ignorance on this topic is just obscene.
Alcohol doesn’t kill nearly as many people as cigarettes do (85,000 per year vs. 435,000), and we DO have laws to address the deadly combination of drinking and driving. We’ve also tried alcohol prohibition before and it didn’t work out so well … except for the mobsters.
5
Shannon
// Apr 8, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Brian really hit the nail right on the head with this one. I’d say more, but I think it’d be best if I waited until, oh say… April 18th or so.
6
chad
// Apr 9, 2007 at 11:55 am
my overriding belief is this:
you can do whatever you want as long as you aren’t hurting other people. so drinking alcohol is ok, you aren’t hurting other people. but you can’t drink to much and then drive, because you could hurt other people.
so, smoking cigarrettes is ok, you aren’t hurting other people. but smoking cigarrettes and then blowing out the toxins towards other people is not.
so alcohol in bars is ok, you aren’t hurting other people.
Leave a Comment