Friday, January 31, 2003
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Friday, January 31, 2003 |
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Everybody's eligible for liquor vote By JOHN
THOMPSON Voters throughout Coweta County will determine the fate of serving mixed drinks in restaurants in the unincorporated county. Shortly after the Coweta County Commission voted to call for a referendum on the issue last week, questions started swirling about who could actually vote on the issue. In a memo to the County Commission this week, county attorney Mitch Powell said all citizens can vote. "The laws of Georgia, however, provide for all residents of the county to vote whether they live in an incorporated city or not," he said. Even though everybody would vote, Powell added the only area that would add mixed drinks to the menu would be establishments in the unincorporated county. "In order to adopt liquor sales in any city, the council or voters of that city must by their initiative call a referendum," Powell said. Newnan currently allows liquor by the drink, while the city of Grantville allows package sales. Powell was also very specific concerning the date of the election. He said the code section allows for special elections on the second Tuesday in March, April, September and the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. He added that the Election Superintendent sets the date, by the County Commission can request the date it wants the election to be held. Before the election can be held, the request would have to be submitted to the Department of Justice to see if it complies with the Voting Rights Act.
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