Proposed smoking ban makes little progress
* Mayoral candidates support parts of ban
By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com
County and city leaders say no committees have been formed and no laws have been written to address a recent request for a smoking ban in public places.
This is despite the fact that a group of teens armed with 430 signatures from area residents made a formal presentation to both councils, and parts of the ban are supported by three mayoral candidates.
County officials say they have not acted because many businesses don't want a ban and many fear that such laws would cause customers to go to neighboring counties without bans.
City officials say they have not addressed the issue because they have been focussed on the budget.
Both governing bodies say it is possible that council members will bring up the issue in the coming months.
'Not illegal'
County Administrator Sel Hemingway said County Council has been hesitant to act because many businesses here would lose customers if a smoking ban was enacted.
It might also give businesses in neighboring Horry County an advantage, since they do not ban smoking in businesses, he said.
"We certainly acknowledge the consequences of smoking and the documented diseases related to smoking, but it is not illegal," Hemingway said.
"However, we need to be careful about taking action to enact policy in the private sector, banning a legal activity and telling businesses where they can and cannot allow it."
He added that a smoking ban could possibly be a state or federal issue.
Too busy
City Administrator Chris Eldridge said City Council has not had time to consider drafting a law to ban smoking in public places because they have been too busy with the budget process.
"The request came in the most busy time of the year," Eldridge said. "I think they definitely take the smoking ban issue seriously, but it is a balance between health and freedom to smoke, as well as restaurants' freedom to allow smoking or not."
He said that numerous places in the city are already smoke free by choice and going smoke free is the trend today.
Mayoral candidates Jack Scoville, Marty Tennant and Bob Sizemore say they personally think smoking should be limited, but they are interested in what the public has to say about the issue.
Scoville and Tennant say a smoking ban should probably come from state or federal officials, not city or county officials.
Curious to see
About a month has passed since a group of YMCA teens petitioned Georgetown city and county councils to ban smoking in public places.
YMCA Executive Director Amy Brennan said her 16-year-old daughter, Kayla, and other members of the group are curious to see how government officials will ultimately react.
"I give these teens a lot of credit for their courage and the way they handled themselves during the presentations to both councils," Brennan said.
She says she leaves the next step in the hands of the teens.
"If the kids can help educate the public about the dangers of second-hand smoke, I think they've done a lot," Brennan said. "The YMCA has always taken a leadership role in health issues and this is just one more example of that."