Getting out the vote

While those working both sides of the issue say getting voters to the polls is important, the issue hasn’t galvanized the electorate.

“We haven’t had any rush of people coming down here to register,” said Vicki Hyatt, a board of elections employee.

According to election board numbers, only 14 new voters have registered in Canton since Nov. 4. Those new voters brought the town’s total to 2,859 in its six precincts.

In order to bring the issue to a vote, supporters had to get the signatures of 992 registered voters to the board of elections office. Then the signatures had to be verified. After that the vote was set. The supporters of alcohol sales actually turned in 1,100 names.

“In general municipal elections there have been about 600 voters,” said Phillips. “We’re very optimistic that this is going to pass.”

The wording of the referendum breaks the vote down into two categories: one allows the sale of beer, the other mixed drinks. On-premise wine sales are already legal in Canton.

What’s the effect

Determining how something like increased alcohol sales will affect Canton is certainly no easy task. Those on both sides of the issue have widely divergent opinions.

Sammons fears the social impact of having more alcohol available in Canton is primary among his groups main concerns. During his years as a preacher, he says he has counseled hundreds of families whose primary problems have centered on alcohol abuse. Increasing the number of places where alcohol is available will increase the problem, says Sammons.

“When there are more outlets, there is more consumption and therefore more abuse and alcohol-related problems,” said Sammons.

He cites the instance of McDonalds. When a second restaurant was planned for the area near the interstate, many people thought it would simply draw business away from the other, older restaurant. Instead, Sammons says it simply created more McDonalds’ customers.

“We’re citing that restaurant as an example of our belief that if there are more outlets there will be more consumption,” said Sammons. “That’s our number one argument - if there’s more consumption, there will be more problems.”

Those trying to defeat the alcohol vote are relying on two more arguments, said Sammons. One is the message sent to youth. He said alcohol is a worse drug problem than cocaine and marijuana, and passing this referendum will send the wrong message. Third, Sammons said there are biblical warnings about the ill effects of alcohol abuse.

Smathers, who is among the most vocal proponents of the referendum (the town board has not taken a stand on the issue), said it will change Canton dramatically.

“It will be significant. I know of at least 10 property owners who have been contacted by chain restaurants, and as soon as they tell them we don’t allow on-premise alcohol sales, they go away,” said Smathers.

His arguments for supporting the referendum have focused almost exclusively on the economic benefits to the town.

“We are surrounded by communities that have on-premise alcohol sales. It is time Canton joined them. All you have to do is look around and see that towns with on-premise sales are growing and others are lagging,” he said.

The mayor also says having restaurants that serve alcohol may keep more of Blue Rigde Paper’s huge payroll in town.

“If we can keep some of those workers in town on Thursdays or Fridays to have a meal and a beer, that will be good for Canton,” he said.

Phillips said the real issue is whether alcohol sales that are already taking place - in other towns - will now occur in Canton and therefore benefit Canton.

“It’s just a matter of who benefits, not whether people are going to drink,” said Phillips.

Smathers promised that if the measure passes town aldermen will take a hard look at zoning ordinances. The goal would be to make sure full-time bars and topless clubs did not open in Canton, he said.

Staying friendly

While votes on alcohol sales often cause bitter divisions within communities, from all appearances Canton’s debate has been high-profile yet amicable. Sammons said it has remained that way despite supporters’ refusal to hold a public debate.

“We don’t have any malice or anger, we just feel like more alcohol isn’t good for Canton,” said Sammons.

“We are a fairly close-knit community,” said Smathers. “There is no need to be getting in people’s faces over this. Our committee is doing some things and the opposition is doing some things.”