Group forms to oppose Tyler alcohol initiative - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports

TYLER (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - A political action committee has filed election paperwork to campaign against beer and wine sales in Tyler and Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.

"Stand Strong for Tyler" will oppose two propositions to bring alcohol sales.

Michael Daniels, pastor at Landmark Baptist Church, is listed as an assistant campaign treasurer on the campaign finance report. He could not be reached for comment this morning.

In Tyler, a political action committee, "Buy Local First," has been circulating petitions to bring the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption and expand mixed beverage sales by restaurants, which passed in 2008.

In JP Precinct 2, which includes unincorporated areas surrounding southern Tyler, Flint, Noonday and Bullard, the group is seeking the legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption and mixed beverage sales for restaurants.

Proponents of alcohol sales seek about 7,800 signatures from Tyler registered voters and another 6,700 from those in JP 2 before the measure can be put on November ballots.
Registered voters who live within the overlapping portions of JP Precinct 2 and the city limits of Tyler can sign all four petitions.

Laura Krantz, of Krantz PR, a spokeswoman for Buy Local First, said the signatures will be turned in by the June 25 deadline.

"Support was not a problem," she said regarding signature collection.

Portions of Tyler, Flint, Noonday and Bullard within or surrounded by JP Precinct 2 will become wet if the proposal passes there, said Tyler's Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Agent Shane Krajewski.

Off-premise consumption means a person can walk into a grocery or convenience store and buy beer or wine to consume elsewhere.

Winona, Troup, Alba, Jacksonville, Athens, Henderson, Rusk and Mineola voted in recent years to allow beer and wine sales for off premise consumption.