Group plans to push wet-dry issue

The following is a news release from the Washington County Citizens for Economic Opportunity

Washington County voters should be allowed to determine whether the county will remain dry or go wet.  That's the decision reached by members of Washington County Citizens for Economic Opportunity which announced it will spearhead an initiative to bring the issue to a vote.

"As a longtime resident of Washington County, I'm excited about the potential of going wet and the economic opportunities it will create for people living and working here," said Sheran Whitaker of Vernon, WCCEO Chair.  "Going wet will not cure all of our economic ills but it will serve as a catalyst to get our economy moving.  It is a valid and logical first step."

On July 1, Whitaker will register Washington County Citizens for Economic Opportunity as a political committee, which will allow it to raise and spend funds towards revising Washington County's liquor laws.

In order to hold a referendum, 25 percent of Washington County's registered voters must sign petitions calling for the election.  Whitaker said WCCEO will kick off a petition drive once it raises the money needed to fund it and at least a portion of the cost of a subsequent voter information and get-out-the-vote campaign.  All told, the price tag for the petition drive and campaign could be as high as $40,000 to $50,000.

"Our fund-raising phase officially gets underway July 1st," said Whitaker. "If all goes well, our petition drive will begin soon and voters may have the opportunity to be heard on this issue before the end of the year."

Once its petition drive begins, the committee has 120 days to complete it.  If the required number of petitions are turned in and validated, the county commission must schedule a referendum.

Anyone interested in contributing to the petition drive and wet campaign can get more information on how to do so from the committee's Web site beginning July 1, or by calling WCCEO Secretary Karen Schoen at 850-773-2415. The WCCEO Web site is at www.wcceo.org.

WCCEO is an independent committee of local business people working to strengthen Washington County's economy.  The group formed shortly after the first of the year.  It chose the wet-dry issue as its first economic initiative after its own studies and an economic poll commissioned by the committee indicated widespread support for going wet. 

Since releasing results of the poll earlier this month, WCCEO has had contact with representatives of a major restaurant chain, a national hotel franchise and several restaurant operators in Bay County interested in coming to Washington County once it goes wet.

"Because of our close proximity to Bay County and the new international airport, Washington County is of great interest to potential new businesses," said Whitaker.  "But most won't come to a dry county."

Whitaker said the committee has learned that even those businesses and industries not directly connected to alcohol are reluctant to locate in a dry county because of the lack of such things as upscale and national chain restaurants, suitable lodging, meeting space, entertainment and goods and supplies.

WCCEO's economic poll, conducted last month, found that more than 90 percent of those surveyed believe it is important that steps are taken to improve Washington County's economy.  If a wet-dry referendum were held, slightly more than 57 percent of those surveyed said they would vote wet while about 37 percent said they would vote dry.  Only about six percent said they were undecided on the issue.