Smoking education group declares win for employees citywide

A higher than average 18 percent of registered voters punched their ballots June 5 to answer the question whether the city should repeal the smoking ban in place since voters approved the Springfield Smokefree Air Act in April 2011.

The 12,390 “no” votes yesterday will keep in place the current ban and City Council’s May 7 amendments, which exempted existing Springfield tobacco shops, cigar bars, private clubs, electronic cigarettes, theatrical performances and bingo parlors under certain circumstances.

The 7,046 “yes” votes supported repealing the ban and reverting to the 2003 law that allowed smoking in bars, private clubs, tobacco shops, pool halls and bowling alleys, and restaurants with fewer than 50 seats or with alcohol sales of more than $200,000, or 50 percent of gross receipts, and with separately ventilated enclosed smoking rooms.

As of 11:49 a.m., results had yet to be certified by Greene County Clerk Richard Struckhoff.

Nonprofit clean air advocacy group One Air Alliance celebrated the June 5 election as a win for employees of historically smoking establishments.

“Workers across this city are earning an honest wage and should not have to jeopardize their health while providing for their families,” officials from One Air Alliance and their supporters said in a prepared statement after the vote. “Unlike many other personal behaviors, smoking impacts more than just the person making the choice.

“We celebrate the democratic process and the fact that our fellow Springfieldians recognized what was at stake and turned out to prevent the repeal and keep Springfield smoke-free.”

Joining One Air Alliance in the statement was the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, American Cancer Society and American Lung Association.