Clean Sweep For Alcohol Opponents

Opponents to legalized alcohol sales claimed a huge victory Tuesday, defeating all three local options for Precinct 1 by double-digit margins.

The highly publicized election drew more than 2,400 votes on each option, with more than 1,000 voters turning out in Grand Saline.

The results will also ease the minds of alcohol sales opponents in Canton. A small section of the city, mostly commercial, is within Precinct 1 and some feared passage of any of the three options would lead to a citywide wet/dry election sometime next year.

Of the three, the option for mixed beverage sales for on-premise consumption in restaurants turned out to be the tightest total, failing 1,335 to 1,097.

Danny Eason, president of the opposition group Concerned Citizens of Van Zandt County, said the results made the group’s anti-alcohol campaign worthwhile.

"We have had up to 50 volunteers putting forth efforts…It is a credit to them and their hard work," Eason said.

The group sponsored prayer meeting events in the past month at different locations, attracting more than 100 people at each one, he added.

As for the election outcome, Eason said, "I think it sent a message that people in Van Zandt County want the quality of life we have here to stay at a premium."

The option for beer and wine sales for off-premise consumption failed by a 59 percent majority, 1,442 to 1,001. The option for all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption (full package stores) was soundly defeated by more than 500 votes, 1,476 to 943.

Jimmy Pickens, who led the petition effort in the summer to bring the three options onto Tuesday’s ballot, said he was "stunned" by the vote totals.

"I’m in a daze right now. I’m shocked," he said.

However, earlier in the evening Pickens said he was pleased to see such a high voter turnout.

"I’m tickled to death with the turnout. Win or lose, the decision will be made by Van Zandt County voters. We will know what the people want after tonight," he said.

The majority, as it turned out, were not ready for about one-fourth of the county to go wet.

Early voting totals stood as an indication that the anti-alcohol sentiment was strong. The beer and wine sales option fell behind in early voting by a 291-124 margin.

It was much the same story for the package store option (297-122) and the restaurant option (270-155).

The first Election Day voting box arrived at the Van Zandt County Courthouse about 7:20 p.m. Just more than an hour later, the unofficial totals were in and it was almost all bad news for alcohol sales supporters.

The only option to find success in any of the five voting precincts included in Precinct 1 was the restaurant option in Box 6 (Grand Saline). It drew 525 in favor, 515 against.

The results keep Edgewood dry for a third time after local option defeats in 1989 and 1999.