As it heads to ballot, smoking ban sees few foes

As a statewide anti-smoking initiative was pronounced qualified for the November ballot yesterday, organized opposition appeared nonexistent.

Representatives of the minicasino and restaurant industries said no group is currently forming to fight Initiative 901, which would ban smoking in all public places and all indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants.

"I keep asking people. But I get a dismal response from the industry either because they're broke, or see it as David-versus-Goliath," said Gary Murrey, a casino business executive.

Murrey was unable to gather enough signatures to get an alternative initiative on the ballot, to ban smoking only in public places where children are allowed.

I-901 sponsors submitted 321,615 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office, easily surpassing the 224,880 signatures needed to get on the ballot. The office said yesterday that based on a random sample of about 9,800 signatures, only 17 percent were invalid, so it should qualify.

The measure requires a simple majority of votes to become law.

The initiative would ban smoking in all buildings and vehicles open to the public, except for 25 percent of rooms in hotels. It also would bar smoking in workplaces, including outdoor areas within 25 feet of doorways and ventilation openings. The current Clean Indoor Air Act exempts bars, restaurants, taverns and bowling alleys.

Smoking bans


Nine other states that have enacted bans on indoor smoking similar to Initiative 901:

• California

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Maine

• Massachusetts

• Montana

• New York

• Rhode Island

• Vermont

Source: Healthy Indoor Air for All of Washington (Pro-I-901 campaign)

"This is about protecting the right of everyone in Washington to breathe clean air," said Peter McCollum, communications director for the I-901 campaign.

The campaign has raised more than $686,000, including more than $423,000 from the American Cancer Society and $30,000 from the American Lung Association of Washington.

Murrey's alternative measure raised $1,000.

Murrey, vice president of the Great American Gaming Corp., said organized opposition to I-901 was not emerging because of how well-funded the supporters are.

Many in the gaming industry are "tapped out" after contributing last fall to the unsuccessful I-892, which would have allowed slot machines in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, bingo halls and cardrooms, Murrey said.

But Murrey said he will continue to oppose I-901 because it's unfair. It doesn't apply to tribal casinos, so smoking customers will take their business there, he argues.

"They're taking property rights and individual rights away from a select group of people," he said.

Gene Vosberg, chief executive officer of the Washington Restaurant Association, said 75 percent of member restaurants are nonsmoking, and the organization does not oppose I-901.

But Vosberg criticized the measure's 25-foot rule, saying customers wouldn't be able to smoke on outdoor decks, and employees would have to move away from a building to smoke.

Warren King: 206-464-2247 or wking@seattletimes.com