WHITLEY CITY —
With the election to decide whether alcohol sales will be allowed in McCreary County set for August 28, opponents began to organize last week.
A committee calling themselves Citizens for a Secure McCreary County held a rally Saturday, attracting more than 100 to the high school auditorium.
Not just an expression against alcohol sales, the rally was geared toward developing a strategy ensure the issue is defeated come Election Day.
Committee chairman Mike Casada, who pastors the 2nd Baptist Church of Whitley City, urged the crowd to keep several dates in mind. While the election will be held on August 28, early voting begins on August 10 and July 31 is the last day to register and be eligible to vote in the election.
Mark Sewell serves as vice-chair. A voting committee headed by William Kilby, who pastors the East Pine Knot Tabernacle, will be working to “knock on doors” and telephone voters in each precinct. Volunteers were also sought for a sign committee and transportation committee to haul voters to the polls. A financial committee led by Roger Bryant and Pam Patrick has a starting balance of $3,500 due to funds left over from the 2009 anti-winery campaign in Eagle. Casada said dry supporters in Rockcastle County recently spent $23,000 on a similar election.
“We don’t want to be argumentative or provoking,” Casada said. “We just want to turn this into something positive…It’s my hope the work we do here will go on to help our county grow in the right way.”
The effort to legalize alcohol sales in McCreary County has been spearheaded by Scottie Morrow of Citizens for a Better McCreary County. Last month, Morrow presented the county with a petition to put the issue on the ballot containing 751 verified signatures belonging to local registered voters.
Representatives from Citizens for a Secure McCreary County sent open records requests to both McCreary County Judge-Executive Doug Stephens and McCreary County Clerk Eric Haynes for that petition.
Judge Stephens told the Record that he denied the request after he was advised by County Attorney Michele Wilson Jones that the petition could contain information of a personal nature that is exempted from the Open Records Act.
Stephens provided Jones’ letter, which read in part: “The Kentucky Court of Appeals has concluded that certain personal information, including, social security number, home address and telephone number are generally accepted by society as details in which an individual has at least some expectation of privacy. I would conclude, an individual’s preference to support a ‘wet/dry’ vote would fit into that category…”
Clerk Haynes was advised by members of the Kentucky County Clerks Association, as well as Mary Sue Helms, the Secretary of State’s Director of Administration and Elections, that the clerk’s office is a recording office where any document filed is subject to the Act.
“I have to follow the law,” Haynes said, adding that the judge’s office is not a recording office. “I just want the election to be run the right way and to help both sides get the answers they need.”
Haynes added that the citizen making the request only wanted verified names, so he did not release copies of the original petition.
Still, Morrow expressed concern as he told the Record that one business which had the petition had been threatened with boycott. Morrow questioned whether the group boycotts businesses in the surrounding communities which sell alcohol as well.
Morrow said he is acting from a purely economic standpoint, noting that Corbin took in $35,000 during its first four days of legalized alcohol sales.
During the rally, Casada disputed claims that the sales tax would add to the local economy — citing a law that the revenue should be just enough for the county to cover the expense of extra policing and administration. He also talked of how alcohol can destroy families, and that a wet vote gives a community stamp of approval which encourages youth that drinking is okay.
“The opposition pretends we do not have illegal sales in McCreary County,” Morrow countered. “If we legalize it, we’d get rid of bootleggers and they would not be selling to our teens.”
Morrow questioned why the group did not raise money to fight illegal drugs if its members are so concerned about the county.
There are no plans for a “wet” rally as yet but supporters have created a Facebook page called “McCreary County Going Wet.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Mike Casada (center), pastor of Whitley City 2nd Baptist, speaks to a crowd of more than 100 Saturday morning in the McCreary Central High auditorium during a rally for Citizens for a Secure McCreary County. The group opposes alcohol sales, the issue voters will decide on August 28. Janie Slaven
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