By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
A petition seeking the legal sale of liquor in Pct. 6 of Liberty County had more than enough signatures to put the issue on the Nov. 5 ballot, according to County Clerk Lee Haidusek Chambers.
“They needed 25 percent of the registered voters in Pct. 6, which was roughly 1,200, and the petition has more than 1,400 signatures, well above the required amount,” Haidusek said.
The Nov. 5 election will not supersede previous elections in the cities of Cleveland and North Cleveland, however. In Cleveland, the sale of mixed drinks and beer is allowed at restaurants. North Cleveland will remain “dry,” meaning the sale of alcohol will not be permitted at all.
“The only way to change that is for those cities to have elections,” Haidusek said. “If they want to change their liquor laws, they will have to hold an election and vote for it separately from this election.”
If Pct. 6 voters approved the issue this November, the sale of alcohol will be permitted in all unincorporated areas of Pct. 6.
“The only other formality before then is that the issue has to go before commissioners. They have to approve it for an election to be held,” she said.
Once early voting times and locations have been established, the information will be posted on the County Clerk’s website and through local media.