The businessman spearheading the package liquor petition admits that on the eve of the deadline the chances aren’t good of getting the question on the city ballot this November.
“The chances are slim,” admitted Rocky Patel who has organized a petition drive to get package liquor on the ballot. “We’ve tried very hard but we just haven’t been able to get enough signatures. We’re not getting enough support.”
State law requires the signatures of 335 registered McMinnville city voters to qualify package liquor for referendum this November. As of Tuesday, the number was only one-third of the way there and stood at 110. Election officials say they have been getting petitions filled with names, but many of the signatures are disqualified because they are not registered city voters. McMinnville city residents will be the only ones allowed to vote on the measure should it make the ballot.
Patel, who runs Quick Shop on South Chancery Street, says he got behind the idea because he thinks it will benefit McMinnville.
“Just look over in the small town of Woodbury,” Patel said. “Their package store has moved to the side of town nearest to McMinnville. I called over there and they told me 70 percent of their business is from Warren County.”
Patel said McMinnville is missing out on revenue that is going out to surrounding towns like Woodbury, Spencer and Manchester. Patel doesn’t drink himself but he thinks a person should be able to make their own choice.
“If they want to drink, they’re going to drink,” Patel said.
Patel noted his attempts to join forces with large corporations like Kroger, which is trying to get a wine-in-supermarkets question on the ballot, was rejected as they want to carry on their own petition drive.
Package liquor and wine in supermarkets are separate ballot questions and therefore are on separate petitions. Supermarket wine is a little closer to its goal with 140 signatures. It also requires 335 city voters to get on the ballot. Deadline to submit the petitions to the election office is Thursday at noon.