No vote next Tuesday on Gainesville smoking ban

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City Council will not be voting on a proposed no smoking ordinance when it meets next Tuesday, after all.

Mayor George Wangemann, the catalyst behind the proposal, could not muster the support he needs at Thursday's council work session to have the question placed on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting.

Wangemann said the ordinance was drawn up to protect public health and did address the choice of non-smokers.

"I'm not telling people they cannot smoke," Wangemann said.

"What I am saying is I don't think it ought to be done in the presence of someone who does not want to breathe it."

Three Gainesville restaurant owners appeared before City Council to oppose the smoking ban.

Doctor Douglas Harkrider, who owns the Bistro and Boiler Room downtown, is a non-smoker but said the ordinance fails to address free choice.

"It's difficult for the government to legislate what an individual's going to do," Harkrider said.

Harkrider said he would experience a destructive loss of business if the smoking ban was imposed.

Council member Myrtle Figueras strongly dissented saying the proposed ordinance denied free choice.

"Forcing a business, I don't understand why people not have rights," she said.

Councilmen Bob Hamrick and Mark Musselwhite want Hall County to consider adopting the smoking ban.