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May 2, 2009

Cullman mayor reacts to new alcohol vote

By Trent Moore

Even if neighboring towns were able to vote and legalize the sale of alcohol, Cullman Mayor Max Townson said he would prefer his city remain dry.

“I think that’s the wrong move for our government in Montgomery,” Townson said, referring to a new bill that could allow towns with as few as 1,000 residents to vote to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages. “When you start letting some of these small towns go wet, that can create a problem because some don’t even have a police force. I think it’s for the good of our community that this statute not pass ... I am absolutely against it.”

The Alabama House has already given overwhelming final approval to the proposed bill, overriding a veto by Gov. Bob Riley. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill Tuesday, with political insiders saying it is likely to become law even without the governor’s signature.

Currently, state law allows towns with at least 7,000 people to vote to legalize liquor sales in dry counties.

To get a liquor referendum on the ballot, supporters will have to collect signatures equaling 30 percent of the voters in the last general election in the town.

The only two towns in Cullman county large enough to be affected by this proposed new bill are Hanceville and Good Hope.

When asked if he was worried potentially wet towns in Cullman county could take some tax revenue or business opportunities from the city, Townson said it was not a major concern.

“The way I look at it, some will say it’s a revenue thing,” he said. “But I ask this question: We’ve been dry for the last 60 years, and have we prospered? Yes, I think we have. You can’t say that just by going wet you’ll be prosperous.”

If 30 percent of Cullman voters were to sign a petition to call for a ballot on the sale of alcohol, Townson said he would always follow the will of the people.

“That is something that should be the people’s choice,” he said. “If they bring it up, they have the right to vote on it. If the people want it dry, it’s our responsibility to handle that. But if they want it wet, we would abide by their wishes ... Going wet doesn’t create success, but it can create other problems.”

Looking ahead to if the city of Cullman ever became wet, Townson said the city council would push to make the ordinance controlling the sale of alcohol “very, very strict.”

“We don’t want any honky tonks in Cullman,” he said.



‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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