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| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney |
August 1, 2008
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517/377-3931 |
Ottawa County Voters May Have Chance to Vote for Beer and Wine on Sundays – Still Time to Sign Petitions
With under two weeks remaining before the August 12 filing deadline, the drive to allow Ottawa County voters the right to vote on Sunday sales of beer and wine has collected 22,000 of the 38,000 signatures needed to qualify for the November election. The Say Yes to Sunday Committee (SYSC), a group of local business owners augmented by the convention and visitors bureaus in Holland and Grand Haven, announced plans for a final push to make the ballot.
“Ottawa County residents are clear on this: they want the right to vote on this issue,” said Brett VanderKamp, president of New Holland Brewery, member of the Michigan Restaurant Association, and a member of the committee. “Whenever voters have the opportunity, people eagerly sign the petition. It is also clear the high signature threshold is frustrating that overwhelming desire to place the issue on the ballot,” he added.
Ottawa County permits the sale of distilled spirits, so-called hard liquor, by the glass on Sunday, but prohibits beer and wine sales in any form. The ban dates to a 1976 referendum. The only means to reconsider the ban is to collect signatures equaling 35 percent of all votes cast for Secretary of State in 2006.
The group collected signatures at the Berlin Fair in mid-July, at last week’s Ottawa County Fair and this week has collected 1,000 signatures at Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival. SYSC will be staffing polling stations in the August 5 primary election to offer the opportunity to sign the petition.
In addition, petitions are available at more than 80 locations, listed on the SYSC web site, www.sayesytosunday.com
The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) is the recognized leader of Michigan's hospitality industry, providing essential services to the foodservice community. Founded in 1921, the MRA represents more than 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The industry plays an integral role in Michigan's economy, employing more than 423,000 people and creating more than $12.8 billion in annual sales. For more information please call 800-968-9668.
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