Week Left Until Big Alcohol Election
By: Lisa Carr
Updated: May 5, 2009
A week from tonight we will know the final decision about whether Lubbock is going wet. Early voting for the May 9th election has been going on all week, and more than 28,000 people have already hit the polls to make their voices heard. The top issue on the ballot concerns the expansion of packaged alcohol sales throughout Lubbock County. Today we headed out on the streets to see how people are voting and why. Amy Andrus voted for the alcohol expansion, "I just think number one it's gonna be good for our taxes, good for our economy, and I don't see any reason not to have it in the city. When you can go to a restaurant and drink and then drive home ... I just don't see the difference." Sue Murdoch, who voted against the expansion, disagrees, "To say it's gonna help our community, I think it's a joke because it's just gonna cause more harm." Mimi Pappas agrees with Andrus, "I think the businesses would probably make a lot of money having alcohol in town and I hope it would create some jobs. Maybe some trucking jobs and distribution kind of jobs for the area."
Most of the early voters we spoke with on Saturday say they voted yes to expanding alcohol sales, but there were also plenty of no's mixed in. There were also a lot of folks who told us they plan to vote, but just haven't yet. If you want to cast your ballot in this election, early voting lasts through Tuesday, May 5th and election day is next Saturday, May 9th. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
