Beech Tree News Network

With a local option countywide "wet-dry" election now in the rear-view mirror, another one may be on the horizon soon in Butler County.  Josh Hampton, spokesperson for Citizens for a Better Butler County, officially submitted a local option petition to Butler County Clerk Sherry Johnson earlier today - Friday, July 8.  The petition has 13 names.  According to Johnson, 19 people who live in the Woodbury city limits voted during the 2015 General Election.  As of May 12, Woodbury had a total of 66 registered voters - all of whom vote in the North Second precinct.  Meeting a 25 percent threshold, only five (5) verified signatures are needed to make a valid petition.  

A change in state law coming out of the 2016 General Assembly has made it possible for cities of any size to hold its own local option election election separately from the county's status.  Changes were also put in place to allow cities next to a federal or state waterway to hold its own local option vote.  As a result of the changes in state law, Hampton said local option petitions are now circulating in both Morgantown and Rochester, in addition to the Woodbury petition that was submitted today.  

Hampton stated that the change in state law prompted his group to move forward sooner than they anticipated with another local option petition and it allowed them to launch petition drives in three local communities.  

"After the relatively close election in January and the fact that Morgantown actually voted to go wet, we knew that another petition drive of some sort was going to happen," said Hampton.  "The changes in the law made it sooner rather than later and we're excited about the opportunities it presents to Butler County."

Based on voting numbers in the last General Election, Hampton said he thinks about 10 signatures will be needed in Rochester and around 90 for Morgantown.  

"We expect the petitions to be verified and for there to be local option elections in all three communities - Woodbury, Rochester and Morgantown - in the coming months," said Hampton. 

According to Sherry Johnson, she will give the petition to the judge-executive for inspection.  The judge will return it to the clerk's office in order to verify signatures on the petition.  Citizens for a Butler Butler has requested Tuesday, September 27, as the date for the election.  State law still requires a special-called election.  A proposal to allow local option elections to be held at the same time as a General Election did not make it out of the 2016 General Assembly.  The judge-executive will set the date for the election.  

Hampton said he is optimistic this time around and emphasized that his group only wants what is best for Butler County and for the community to move forward.  

"A person can't be fiscally conservative and against the legal sale of alcohol," said Hampton.  "We want to keep our dollars at home benefitting our community."   

Hampton said his group is grateful to have the petition support of some elected officials in Woodbury, including Mayor Foy Gabbard, who signed the petition, and some members of the Woodbury City Commission.

"It's important to have elected leaders step forward in a public and positive way to help their community grow," said Hampton. 

In an interview with Beech Tree News, Mayor Gabbard said he wasn't sure that it would benefit Woodbury immediately due to the fact that there are no stores or businesses in Woodbury.  

Gabbard suggested, however, that in the future cities like Woodbury may benefit from the legal sale of alcohol.  He referenced the former state "Rivertown" initiative designed to promote tourism and economic growth.  

"It was a good idea but many people who would use the river in that way (kayaking, boating, etc.) drink and there is no draw to get them to our community," said Gabbard.  "If Rochester, Woodbury or Morgantown could legally sell alcohol then perhaps they just might be able to find a way to promote tourism and bring in revenue."  

Gabbard said he wasn't sure whether or not the alcohol measure would pass in Woodbury but he hopes it does.

"Some people with twisted religious beliefs (not twisted religion) are what drives the anti-drinking vote," stated Gabbard.  "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was a Jew and they drank."  

According to Hampton, Citizens for a Better Butler County, will take a somewhat different approach in supporting the local option election.
"We do not plan to spend any money in terms of campaigning for the local option election," said Hampton.  "All the arguments - for and against - the legal sale of alcohol have already been made numerous times during the countywide election and there is simply no need to go down that road again.  It is our goal to give the citizens in these communities a chance to vote on this important issue and we will respect their decision."  

If voters approve the legal sale of alcohol in Woodbury or in any other city in which a petition may be submitted, it will allow the sale of packaged liquor and restaurant sales only - no bars. 

The Morgantown petition may be signed at Kuntry Kitchen.  The Rochester petition is circulating in the community.

The Woodbury local option petition as it was submitted to the Butler County Clerk's office can be viewed below. It is a public document subject to Kentucky's Open Records laws.  

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Story by John Embry, Beech Tree News.