Mulcare on Alcohol Issues: Let the Voters Decide

Mike Mulcare said he fully trusts the citizens of the County to decide on alcohol sales and will allow them to vote on the issues on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The Douglas County Commissioners will be voting at 10 a.m. to allow citizens to vote on regulating Sundays sales by retailers of beer and wine between the hours of 12:30 and 11:30 p.m., otherwise known as Sunday Sales.

The second resolution will allow voters to permit restaurants to sell Sunday by-the-drink.

Commissioners discussed the ordinances in their Monday work session meeting and will make the final decision in today's voting meeting.

Mulcare, representing District 3, provided Douglasville Patch with a statement regarding his position on the votes:

"Over the last several years we have experienced a growing anxiety about the government’s intrusion in peoples’ lives. I deeply share that concern. As only one example, the government has mandated peoples’ healthcare coverage and costs, largely against their wishes and there are numerous other examples of eroding freedom. The general assembly and the governor rightly passed this alcohol issue down to a local decision by referendum of voters. I do not consider it my place to deny the voters the right to decide for themselves.

"Our Douglas County citizens spoke clearly and capably on the recent transportation tax referendum which centered on the collection and spending of 100’s of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. I fully trust them to determine this issue of alcohol sales as well.

"While we struggle to be heard by our state and federal government, we commissioners should not deny Douglas County people the right to be heard right here in their own county."

Douglas County District 4 Commissioner Ann Jones Guider said she expects to be the "Lone Ranger" later today as the only dissenting vote opposing placing the two alcohol-related resolutions on the November ballot.