Although an official petition requesting the question of making alcoholic beverage sales legal in Clinton County has yet to be filed, a group of local citizens, led by several pastors and churches, are gearing up to officially oppose such a measure if and when it would become official.

Although no official organization can be formed unless there is something to take action against, a contingent of anti-wet supporters held an initial meeting last Thursday evening, August 4 at Albany First Church of the Nazarene.

Close to 70 people, including around a dozen ministers of all denominations were in attendance.

Most of those present represented churches from which some pastors spoke, but there were also a couple of elected officials (magistrates) and several people who simply oppose making alcohol sales in the county legal.

Various pastors who helped put the public meeting together spoke to the contingency, including the host church pastor David Dorn, who introduced the other speakers. Dorn explained to the group the reason for the meeting and asked those in attendance to make an organized effort to oppose the wet drive, saying the group would be “better together.”

Pastor David McIver was the first speaker and generally provided legal information as to how a wet vote issue is conducted, as well as timelines for the issue to be placed on the ballot. He was the first to note that since an actual petition has not been filed, verified or an election called for, the group could not officially organize, which would include naming itself or electing officers, etc., saying a Political Action Committee or PAC couldn’t be formed “until an official petition (for a wet vote) is filed.”

He further said the meeting was to discuss and be informed on what the group’s options are but suggested doing nothing “official at this point,” adding he hoped they (wet group) don’t get enough signatures to petition for a vote.

Pastor Bobby Grant, of Highway Nazarene Church, was the next to address the crowd, saying as Christians, “We need to be careful as to how we react,” including to the opposition. He also questioned if legalizing alcohol sales would benefit the youth and children of the county in any way, saying that “one life lost” as a result of the measure can’t be paid in economic revenue it may create.

Stony Point Baptist Church pastor Jim England then briefly addressed the audience, giving some grim statistics on the use and abuse of alcohol, including domestic and accident or injury statistics. Among other stats, that one out of every three fatal traffic accidents involved the use of alcohol and 55 percent of domestic and 65 percent of spousal abuse is related to alcohol.

“Alcohol does not help communities at all,” he said, urging churches and others to work together and take a stand, also adding “This is not just a religious issue, but a social issue.”

Dorn also added, “As pastors, we have a responsibility for family and truth.” He indicated the wet forces would have to have their petition filed with the clerk’s office by (this past) Monday if it were to get on a ballot prior to the November general election. Apparently the petition has to be presented 90 days prior to the next election, or it would have to wait until after November 8, the next general election date, to be put on the ballot.

“If it (petition) is not filed until later, “we need to be ready” and encouraged people to get registered to vote.

Pastor Bob Sawyer of Clear Fork Baptist Church also briefly addressed the crowd, saying there were at least 55 churches in Clinton County, indicating if they stuck together, they could defeat a possible wet vote. He also encouraged people to write letters to the newspaper, help in getting people registered to vote and getting to the polls, if necessary, during a special election on the issue. He also said his church vans would be available to assist people, including the elderly, etc. to get to a polling place.

“This is not going to be the only meeting,” Dorn told the group.

“If the petition is verified and we do get organized, we want it to be positive, and added if he had a choice to name a group it would be “Citizens for Families.”

A couple of members of the audience also spoke on the issue, and during the session it was quoted that “If good men do nothing, bad things happen.”

The 40 minute meeting, which was preceded by a heavy thunderstorm and downpour of rain just prior to the start, ended with a group prayer.

The wet vote petition was apparently the topic of discussion and some sermons among pastors delivered at their church services the prior Sunday morning and Wednesday night, prompting members of some churches to attend.

There were several denominations represented and it was mentioned that future meetings may be scheduled outside of a church setting, such as a school facility.

Although no official organization was necessary or warranted due to the petition yet presented to the county clerk for verification, the group made it clear they are here to stay, and oppose, the wet vote issue should it come to pass in Clinton County.

As of press time Tuesday morning, the wet vote petition that is circulating had not been presented to the county clerk’s office.

Jim Soma, the local businessman who is leading the petition drive to have the wet vote issue put on the ballot, stated on Monday he had approximately 550 signatures. However, he hasn’t picked all the petitions up yet, but would like to have at least 700 names before filing it with the clerk’s office.

Soma also stated he would like to collect the petitions up through the date of the wet special election that is coming up in the City of Monticello. That election, however, isn’t scheduled until September 27.

With that time schedule, a wet vote in Clinton County would not come up until sometime after the upcoming November general election.

A total of 515 signatures, verified as official registered voters, were needed. It isn’t known the number of actual signatures that are on the petition to date. If presented to the clerk’s office, staff there would have to verify the official amount of verified voters and then turn it over to Clinton County Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong to set a date for a special election on the issue.

Parnell Baptist Church Pastor David McIver was the first to speak to those gathered last Thursday at Albany First Church of the Nazarene. The gathering was held in order to allow citizens to begin organizing who might oppose a local effort to have a question regarding making alcohol sales legal in Clinton County put in front of voters in a special election. Although the petition is being circulated, it has yet to be filed with County Clerk Shelia Booher.