TYLER (KYTX) - It's been exactly three weeks since the buy local first committee delivered petition signatures to the City of Tyler and Smith County to put alcohol sales on the November ballot. CBS 19's Amanda Roberson explains why an opposition group has been speaking out against the city's procedures.
The proposal is to put beer and wine sales in stores and mixed drink sales in restaurants on the ballot in Smith County Precinct 2 and the City of Tyler. June 26th opposition group 'Stand Strong For Tyler' requested both the city and county give them copies of the petitions, which are public information documents. The county presented their signatures right away, but the city's been delaying and it's causing big concerns for the opposition group.
"We're being stonewalled by the City of Tyler."
That's the message from head of the Stand Strong For Tyler committee, Dr. Mike Daniels at a rally in Tyler Thursday morning. "We have asked for the petitions, a copy of them, so that we can go over them, each name and make certain that each person is legal."
The committee asked for those petitions June 26th and the City of Tyler had ten days to respond according to state law, either with a copy of the petitions or a letter stating why the documents won't be released.
"They've sent a letter listing a number of reasons," Daniels explained. "One of the reasons is there's a possibility that there's county officials, city officials, or state officials that have signed the petition and it might harm them for their name to be let out to the public. Well, the oughta thought about that honey when they signed it."
"Petitions themselves are subject to disclosure, they're public information," added City of Tyler Attorney Gary Landers. "But state law also says there might be information on the face of the petition that is not subject to disclosure."
Landers said they were holding off on releasing the petitions until the Attorney General's office said it was OK to release information like peace officers and city officials addresses. "When we got the request, we're still in the middle of going through the 9,000 plus names. We never said they wouldn't be released, it's just a question of timing, when can we get to those copies, make them available."
"We want to win fair and square, they want to win any way they can." Daniels said they want to make sure the signatures are legitimate before Tyler City Council meets to put alcohol sales on the November ballot. "We may walk in there and say folks everything's fine, it's just wonderful like they said. Bring it on... I doubt that though."
Without final word for the AG's Office, the City has decided to release a copy of those petitions to Stand Strong For Tyler. The city said they're taking a risk giving all the signatures and information away, but they're following the direction of other cities that have gone through a wet/ dry election. The city said it's worth it because of the public's right to have petition information.
The Stand Strong For Tyler committee also announced it has set up a website, click here.
To visit the Buy Local First's website, click here.
