DeSoto residents petition to get beer and wine on November ballot

by Daphne Brown of of DeSoto TODAY

A movement that began the Tuesday after Memorial Day is nearing its goal.

A group of DeSoto residents is participating in a signature-gathering campaign to put the question of beer and wine on a November ballot.

DeSoto businessman and former mayor Michael Hurtt is assisting Hunt Properties, who is paying for the cost of the survey, with the effort. Hurtt said Hunt had originally wanted the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation to pay for the initiative.

“As mayor during that time, that's not something I thought our tax dollars should be spent on,” Hurtt said.

The original goal had been to obtain enough signatures to have the issue appear on the May election when citizens were electing three new places, including mayor.

“This brings out such division, and it's the last thing people should have to think about when they are electing councilmembers that I asked them to please wait until after Memorial Day,” Hurtt said.

About 4,300 signatures are needed to certify the petition in order to get the issue put on the ballot. That number represents 35 percent of the 12,000 registered DeSoto voters who participated in the last gubernatorial election, according to state law.

“If the petition isn't certified by Dallas County within the 60 days (of Memorial Day), then this becomes a non-issue,” Hurtt said. “If it is certified, it can be on the November ballot.”

Hurtt said businesses such as grocery stores are eager to participate in bringing the issue up for a vote.

“Wal-Mart, Albertsons, Kroger and Charlie's Grocery, all these people would like to see it in their stores so they let us set up tables outside of their establishments in order to get signatures,” Hurtt said.

“My concern, as the mayor when all this was going on, was to make sure the truth was being told.”

Hurtt said the way he sees it is that there are two sides to the beer and wine issue.

“Beer and wine seems to be more socially acceptable than liquor yet there are some in churches whose doctrine is against all alcoholic beverages, so basically everyone's right,” he said.

Keeping the argument in perspective for him, Hurtt said he recalls what happened in Duncanville when Wal-Mart left.

“The city lost $600,000 a year in sales tax,” he said. “So when Costco came in they wanted beer and wine sales, and as soon as it was voted in they replaced that $600,000.

“So does it really matter if you buy your beer and wine in Duncanville and take it home to DeSoto?” he asked. “One thing we're not getting is the dollars and cents.”

When the issue revolved around the Trinity River, it didn't effect the city as much now that our neighbors are benefiting from the sales.

“When the city adjacent to you is selling beer and wine and people don't know city limits, you have to ask yourself if you really want any of the sales tax revenue?” he asked. “In five feet, you don't know if you're in DeSoto or Duncanville. It's really a question for each city to decide.”

He said he was aware of elected officials in Duncanville who do not appreciate DeSoto's effort to seek beer and wine sales.

But Hurtt pointed out that cities don't call elections, counties do.

“Texas is a unique state with all of the wet and dry laws,” Hurtt said.

Despite DEDC not financing the survey, he said, “DEDC needs every possible asset too. Is this the thing that final ly triggers Target to sign a lease with Hunt Properties?”

He said he sees DeSoto residents in Duncanville grocery stores time and time again because of beer and wine.

“People will express their opinion for and against, that's the good thing about America, you get to cast a vote,” he said.

Hurtt pointed out that Lancaster made three attempts at liquor and beer and wine sales. On the council since 1988, Hurtt said the beer and wine issue had not been brought forward.