Nice Article.  The Dallas Morning News has always been a help to Keep Anna Growing, and I appreciate that.   

Early voter turnout high in Anna alcohol election

Anna: 22% of voters have weighed in on proposed sales repeal


12:00 AM CDT on Friday, November 2, 2007
By JIM GETZ / The Dallas Morning News
jgetz@dallasnews.com

Pretend that the city of Anna is a huge glass. Pour in an alcohol election. Add a triple shot of questions, attacks and outside influence. Drop in a dash of religion. Shake and stir with emotion.

The result? High voter turnout and intense interest as residents decide whether to repeal the sale of beer, wine and liquor – something they narrowly approved in February 2005.

In early voting through 5 p.m. Wednesday, turnout was up to 22 percent of Anna's registered voters. In 2005, early turnout was 12 percent, with final turnout at 41 percent. And Collin County Election Administrator Sharon Rowe believes it will hit that mark again.

"Local option elections," she said, "bring out the passion, the energy on both sides."

That's certainly true in Anna, where the debate, once simmering, is now boiling. Early voting ends today; Election Day is Tuesday.

"It's not helping the town," said City Council member Keith Green, treasurer of the pro-alcohol Keep Anna Growing committee. "It was going along just fine, and the opposition decided it wanted to make an attempt to remove the alcohol. We can't do everything we want in this town with just rooftops; we need the commercial businesses."

But fellow City Council member Billy Deragon, who is among those spearheading the repeal, said many feel differently.

"I think we can show strong opposition in the 285 people who signed those petitions to get it on the ballot," he said.

Fuel for the debate is coming from outside and inside the city limits. Two-thirds of the money to Keep Anna Growing came from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, which sent in $30,000 from Washington, D.C.

Mr. Green said that money was used to hire a consultant.

The rest, about $14,000, mainly came from liquor store owners.

By contrast, Anna Alcohol Repeal has had a lone $1,083 contribution, which came from Harvest Time Church. It is a Lancaster church affiliated with Aaron Gonzales, a man who helped organize the petition drive and, Mr. Deragon said, acted as a consultant in the repeal effort.

In Anna, Mr. Green and others who advocate keeping the town's four new liquor stores – and the ability for restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages without a private-club permit – have raised questions about Mr. Gonzales.

Steve Kossa, owner of Fossil Creek Liquor in Anna, said he visited Harvest Time Church on two Sunday mornings and a Wednesday evening and saw only Mr. Gonzales and a small handful of people. That's raised doubts among the pro-alcohol group about where the church has gotten money to contribute to anti-alcohol campaigns in Anna, DeSoto, Mesquite and other cities.

Mr. Deragon said that Harvest Time had indicated the money was coming from the church. But Mr. Gonzales said by cellphone Thursday that the contribution came from him, not the church. He said Anna Alcohol Repeal representatives misunderstood and plan to amend the group's report.

Pro-alcohol forces note that liquor dealers in Dallas, Richardson and The Colony would have a motive to support the repeal. For years, restaurants and bars in Collin County had to buy distilled spirits from liquor dealers in those cities.

But under state law, once liquor stores opened inside Collin County, restaurants and bars were required to buy from the in-county sellers. Alcohol supporters have wondered if Harvest Time has any connection to such stores.

Mr. Deragon dismissed that idea: "I've got some of those guys calling me every day with those allegations. And I've said, let's see it. If it's true, I'll totally throw Harvest Time under the bus."

The concerns have spilled over into the Chamber of Commerce, which officially is neutral on the election. But the president, Kimberly Dawes Luther, has said she is personally opposed to the liquor stores. Her opponents say that sends a mixed message at best.

Opponents also have asked questions about her handling of the chamber's finances and bank accounts, which she addressed during a meeting on Thursday night. In addition, Ms. Luther, a Mormon, says she has received what she terms anti-Mormon literature.

"I don't know what in the world it has to do with the alcohol repeal," Ms. Luther said. "I'm confused. I'm tired of the bashing back and forth."

Mr. Green, the Keep Anna Growing treasurer, wanted it made clear he has nothing to do with any efforts inside the chamber against Ms. Luther.

But, he added, "She should not be the president while trying to run business out of town."

Mr. Deragon says the contentions about Ms. Luther are politically motivated.

"Nobody was making these allegations prior to the election," he said. "Kimberly has stepped out, as I have, as a civil leader to take a position. You know as well as I do that just the allegation, at the right time, could send the repeal into a spiral."

Staff writer Elizabeth Langton contributed to this report.

Pretend that the city of Anna is a huge glass. Pour in an alcohol election. Add a triple shot of questions, attacks and outside influence. Drop in a dash of religion. Shake and stir with emotion.

That was awesome. I liked that

THAT SOB'S FOLLOW LIQUOR STORES?!?  just the allegation, at the right time, could send the anti-prohibition movement into a spiral.

ROTFL 

I was thinking while reading the article "well isn't it ALL politically motivated folks?!?!"

Give me a break if the President of the Chamber of Commerce simultaneously chases businesses out of town while putting on the pretense of growing business in our community.

....I wonder who sent her anti-Mormon stuff, though LOL

We need some new town leadership--when is it time for THAT election??  That letter from Nancy Underwood in another thread made me sick.  I've invested in this town, too and far be it for Dawes or anyone else to threaten MY investment.  ****heads....

Jamie

I was not referring to myself as a possible candidate.  That's a stress I do NOT want.

Jamie

Well, I see your point, but I feel pushed to the edge as is.  Maybe when the kids get older.

Jamie

Women in politics?  Only in America!

Exactly. Wonderful, isn't it?

How about you Angi?  Can't claim busy due to kids - and your dog don't count!  I'll be your press secretary!  (not much press in Anna so should be an easy job)

Quote from: SLUM LORD on November 03, 2007, 06:47:44 PM

Women in politics?  Only in America!

Please direct you idiotic comments to the MAN.

With my checkered past?  They could bring up do much in a smear campaign. Like the one time I... I don't know if I can admit this.. but I must. One time, when not at band camp, I didn't eat my... Lima Beans. There I said it.
Whew. I feel much better now.