Summerville council passes smoking ban

SUMMERVILLE -- The town passed its public smoking ban Wednesday, with Mayor Berlin G. Myers breaking a 3-3 tie to exuberant shouts and cheers from the audience.

Council members Mike Dawson, Kima Garten-Schmidt and Aaron Brown voted in favor. Council members Walter Bailey, Ricky Waring and Bob Jackson opposed.

Bailey called the ordinance "another nail in the coffin of freedom of choice and individual responsibility."

But Dawson, who proposed the law, said, "Our freedoms have bounds. We are not free to bring harm to another individual."

The law, which bans smoking indoors in most businesses, passed after Bailey's motion to table it failed with a 4-2 vote. Waring joined Bailey voting to table. It had become a moving target, with at least two revisions between first and final reading and Dawson tweaking it as recently as Tuesday to deal with objections.

The council tabled Dawson's first proposed ordinance in spring 2010. He won more council support and introduced a revised version in December after council members were told that Dorchester County Council also would propose one.

But County Council delayed its first vote earlier this month, with a majority of members indicating that they wouldn't support it. The vote is scheduled for Feb. 7.

A collection of anti-smoking activist groups has pushed for the local bans and a statewide ban that the S.C. Legislature hasn't acted on yet.

Representatives and supporters of the activist groups turn out for the votes, arguing for the health and worker safety benefits. Less organized and usually smaller numbers of smoking supporters and business people turn out arguing that it's a property rights decision that should be left to individual businesses.

Bailey, among some other town and county council members, was concerned that the ordinance is an overreach of government.

Twelve Lowcountry municipalities now have smoking bans; North Charleston and Folly Beach have rejected them. At least five counties across the state also have a ban.

The bans appear to hurt at least a few businesses and help others. Bert's Bar closed after Sullivan's Island passed a smoking ban; the owner blamed it partly on a drop in business after the ban. Nearby, Dunleavy's Pub saw business pick up.

Reach Bo Petersen at 937-5744.