Local option election for alcohol petition submitted

Wayne Morris turned in the petition to call a local option election for the sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages within the City of Jacksboro Friday, April 22.

He said the due date was Monday, but he wanted to make sure he had it in on time.

Morris presented the petition to Jacksboro City Secretary Brenda Tarpley late Friday afternoon with 467 signatures. The number of valid signatures of registered voters within the city limits to call a petition is 383.

That number is determined by the number of Jacksboro voters who voted in the last gubernatorial election. Morris needed 35 percent of the 1,093 who voted.

Tarpley said she will check the signatures for validity and plans to have it completed by the end of next week.

According to the Secretary of State’s website, the petition must be brought before the city council to take action regardless if it is valid or not.

“The first day the commissioners court or city, as applicable, must order an election is at its next regular session occurring 30 days on or after the petition was filed with the voter registrar, elections administrator, or city secretary, as applicable,” the website reads.

The first regular city council meeting after 30 days will be May 23.

If the petition is approved, it would likely be on the November ballot.