Local businessman Jim Soma watched last Friday as Clinton County Clerk date stamped a petition that could result in Clinton County voters deciding whether or not alcohol sales will become legal here.

There are several steps involved in pushing for a special election that could impact almost every life in Clinton County, but one of those steps is now complete with the filing last week of a petition asking for a special election to decide whether or not to allow legal sales of alcohol.

Jim Soma, a local businessman who sits on several boards including the tourism board, the Industrial Development Authority, and is very active in the Albany – Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, spearheaded the effort to circulate the petition that will likely take the issue in front of voters here.

On Friday, Soma turned in 48 sheets of paper containing signatures and address of people who are in favor of the county going wet.

“I think I’ve probably got around 800 names,” Soma said. “Now that the main election is out of the way, we need to focus on our own community moving forward.”

Although Soma believes he has more than 800 names, only 515 names are required to hold the special election. That number is based on a percentage of voters who voted in the last general election (2015) which is 25 percent of those who voted.

Soma’s filing of the petition last Friday, prior to this week’s general election, means officials will use the voter totals from the November 2015 general election as a reference point.

As of right now, Soma is hoping to see the special election on January 10, however, it will be discussed between Soma and County Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong and depending on the details discussed between the two parties, could be changed.

“We want the people of Clinton County to choose,” Soma said. “We have a lot more problems in Clinton County other than this.”

Soma said he believes the key to seeing alcohol sales become legal in Clinton County is educating the public on the issue.

Some acknowledged that he realizes many individuals have problems with alcohol, but he added there are also individuals who also have problems with illegal drugs, prescription drugs, tobacco, and obesity within the county.

“I think we have issues and I think we need to educate our children as well as some adults,” Soma said. “Education and moderation is the key.”

He added that with alcohol sales becoming legal recently in a host of surrounding counties, legal sales here became more of a prominent issue.

“How can we work together on those things? People are going to go to other counties to get alcohol regardless whether we become legal or not. Alcohol is always going to be an issue. Since people are already buying it and a percentage of the people are already using alcohol in one form or another, why not have it here where we can benefit from it? We would like to propose to the fiscal court where we can use the tax to benefit the fire department and the ambulance service.”

Soma said he believes those two departments are suffering the most financially in the county and funds going to those services will make them better departments and provide better services for the county.

“This will help out the whole community as far as that goes,” Soma said.

County Clerk Shelia Booher said Friday that she will begin working on the names on the petition after Tuesday’s general election.

Soma thinks he will get a confirmation on the petition soon after this year’s election is over.

“I’m hoping after Tuesday she will get all the names together,” Soma said.

The decision to have the “wet vote” in January, Soma said was because most people, between now and December, are thinking about Christmas and he said he didn’t want to take away from that.

According to Soma, once the petition was filed, a 30 day period has to pass before a special election is held. By filing now, it will give people ample time to make a decision on the issue before the election is held.

“Something I would like to mention … some friendly advise to the local organizations who are 501C3 organizations (non-profit), that they are prohibited from engaging in any political decision. A few churches, I know, for a fact, lost their tax status because of this issue.”

“Let the people of our county decide. We can sit down and argue about this all day long, but let the people decide,” Soma said. “Do we want to prosper or do we want to stay as we are and never get ahead.”

Soma said Clinton Countians are sitting between two lakes and more than four million people pass through Albany. He believes the county could make about, if not more, than $10,000 per month in tax dollars.

“This can benefit the ambulance service and fire department,” Soma said. “Hiding things away from a child, they will want it more. It’s all about education and moderation. That’s the key to success.”

If the date is set for January 10, people can walk into the clerk’s office and vote absentee if they are going to be out of town on election day.

Booher said, if the names are certified and a special vote is called for, there will be a machine set up for those who can’t be in the county when the special election is held.

Recently, Cumberland County and Metcalfe County voted in favor of the sale of alcohol within their county borders. The “wet” vote has also surfaced in Monroe County with a petition to not only sell alcohol within the city limits of Tompkinsville, but county-wide.

Legal alcohol sales recently began after special votes were held in neighboring Russell County and nearby Pulaski County.