Mount Pleasant stake holders, assemble!

By LOU ANTONELLI

Managing Editor

Stakeholder: An individual, group, or organization who may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of a project.

As a Mount Pleasant homeowner and taxpayer, I consider myself a “stake holder” in working for the good of the community. That’s the reason I oppose the two local option propositions on Tuesday’s ballot.

But there is another meaning of “stake” and with Halloween just passed, it seems appropriate to also use a vampire analogy as we urge Mount Pleasant voters to go to the polls Tuesday and drive a stake into the heart of the beer and wine propositions once and for all.

Polling locations have been consolidated. Here is a list of which ones art being used, followed by the other voting boxes using the same location for this election:

2-Piney Baptist Church (3-Bridges Chapel)

4-Blodgett Fire Station

5-Sugar Hill Community Center (9-Calvary Baptist Church)

6-Cookville Fire Station

7-Northeast Texas Community College

11-Winfield School (12-West New Hope 18 Farmers Academy Church

15-Nevills Chapel (10-Argo Community Center)

16-Civic Center (1-Sheppard Street Church of Christ 8-IBEW Union Hall 14-Titus County Courthouse Annex 17-Grace Temple Church)

20-South Jefferson Baptist Church (19-Living Truth Fellowship Church)

Only voters in the Mount Pleasant city limits are voting on the beer and wine propositions. Everyone can vote in the seven amendments to the state constitution.

It has been heartening in the past few weeks to see how Mount Pleasant citizens have rallied to the common sense position that the spread of beer and wine in the community does not need to be encouraged.

While very prominent, the moral/religious argument against alcohol only motivates some people. There are many good Christian people who enjoy a beer or a glass of wine occasionally, and understand the dangers of alcohol. Keeping the status quo will not bother them. Law enforcement will, unfortunately, still find drunken fools driving on the highways, and domestic abuse fueled by alcohol. That will not change, also.

It has been suggested that a community with beer and wine sales will be penalized in the rating system using for homeowner insurance. We have tried to research that subject, to no avail, but it seems a logical conclusion.

One benefit of keeping the status quo is that it will still be difficult for teenagers to get their hands on the stuff. That will continue to be one benefit for law enforcement. The charge of MIP (Minor in Possession) remains relatively uncommon.

And let’s not underestimate the role alcohol sales play in creating litter. If you’ve ever taken a close look at the bar ditches in the county, you know how many bottles and cans find their way there. This is also something that does not need to be encouraged.

Yes, beer and wine is legal in Titus County. Its sales are restricted. So are tobacco sales. The state allows cities the local option to regulate how and when beer and wine can be sold. We are content with the present system and see no reason to change it. It ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

There are a couple of former public officials who have some out in support of passage, but no current office holders have. This election was not originated by local government, but by businesses out to make a fast buck. 

The only contributors to the political action committee pushing the propositions - the deceptively named Economic Growth Committee - have been Walmart and Brookshire's. Since June of 2015 Wal-Mart has contributed $450,000. in cash and in-kind" contributions of $40,878.24 for total contributions of $ 490,878.28. Brookshire's has contributed $60,000.00 in cash.

I never was a big fan of Walmart – the Destructor of Small Business America – but when I walk in and see pro-beer and wine banners hanging from the rafters? Sorry, I’m taking my business elsewhere.

The polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. If you didn’t vote early in-person, it’s your last chance to make your voice heard and help drive that stake I referred to earlier into the heart of the matter.

And let’s hope the coffin stays nailed shut for a long, long time.