Muleshoe residents to vote on alcohol proposal

Backers say alcohol sales would bring a boom to Muleshoe’s economy. Detractors say a rise in crime and addiction isn’t worth extra tax revenue.

City residents will decide the issue Saturday, the second time in  seven months an alcohol decision has been placed in the hands of local voters.

If passed, the measure would allow the sale of all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption.

The election takes place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also on the ballot is a hospital tax levy.

City Secretary LeAnne Gallman said 491 ballots were cast on the alcohol question during the early voting period. Gallman said that’s a lot of early votes for any city election, considering normally election is to determine city commission positions. That portion of the election was canceled due to a lack of contested races, Gallman said.

In November, Bailey County residents defeated a similar measure 1,241-981.

“The last time was countywide, so we don’t have a feel for what strictly city voters could be,” said Stacy Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church in Muleshoe, who has done most of the advertising for Concerned Citizens of Bailey County, which successfully fought the county measure. “We’re as up in the air about Saturday’s vote as anybody.”

Bailey County Precinct 4 Commissioner Juan Chavez led the effort to put the item on the ballot. He thinks Muleshoe is falling behind economically without offering a product available in neighboring cities.

“I think a lot of our tax dollars have gone to Clovis or somewhere else,” said Chavez, who has spent 16 years as either a city or county commissioner. “They should stay here.”

Conner said Plainview legalized alcohol sales inside the city and saw crime increases.

“Our argument is it does not benefit the social fabric of the community,” Conner said. “Increasing availability increases opportunities for youth. It increases the chance for additional addiction.”

Chavez figures those who want alcohol will get it from either Clovis, Morton or Littlefield, and that includes people who voted against the county measure in November.

“We go get it in Clovis, or wherever it’s sold. I think it’s more of a risk if somebody has all these drinks and has to drive 30 miles (back to Muleshoe).”

Breakout

Upcoming Texas city elections. Elections are canceled if no races are contested.

Muleshoe

The legal sale of all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption only.

• For

• Against

The levy of annual taxes by the Board of Directors at the Muleshoe Area Hospital district for hospital purposes at a rate not to exceed 55 cents on each $100 valuation on all taxable property in the district subject to hospital district taxation.

• For

• Against

Bovina

City aldermen (Two-year at large terms; vote for three)

• Jim Bob Swafford*

• Celia Tienda

• Richard Villarreal*

• Gaylon Rhodes*

* incumbent