The Southeast Georgia cities of Springfield and Rincon have decided to join Effingham County in asking voters whether to approve liquor sales at restaurants.
Voters throughout Effingham County will decide in February whether to approve restaurant liquor sales county-wide. But officials in Springfield and Rincon say just in case it doesn't pass on the county level, they want to give voters the option of approving restaurant liquor sales for their towns.
The two cities will add it to their local ballot in February.
Area ministers haved formed a church-based strategy for the "no" votes. Contractor Charles Kea leads a pro-business group organizing the "yes" votes.
Kea says, Effingham is growing too close to Savannah's Chatham County to give it the edge over Effingham in attracting restaurants. Kea says, "If we can't pour alcohol and Chatham County can, they'll line up from our county line back into Chatham and anybody who wants to eat at those restaurants will have to leave the county and we'll lose those tax dollars."
Kea says, his surveys suggest broad support for the measure. The ministers disagree, saying residents moved to Effingham to escape Savannah's problems.
Voters throughout Effingham County will decide in February whether to approve restaurant liquor sales county-wide. But officials in Springfield and Rincon say just in case it doesn't pass on the county level, they want to give voters the option of approving restaurant liquor sales for their towns.
The two cities will add it to their local ballot in February.
Area ministers haved formed a church-based strategy for the "no" votes. Contractor Charles Kea leads a pro-business group organizing the "yes" votes.
Kea says, Effingham is growing too close to Savannah's Chatham County to give it the edge over Effingham in attracting restaurants. Kea says, "If we can't pour alcohol and Chatham County can, they'll line up from our county line back into Chatham and anybody who wants to eat at those restaurants will have to leave the county and we'll lose those tax dollars."
Kea says, his surveys suggest broad support for the measure. The ministers disagree, saying residents moved to Effingham to escape Savannah's problems.
