The Primary Election ballots in many Kentucky counties will not see a large list of contests. For many, the G-O-P primary for governor is the marquee race. In one central Kentucky county, voters will be asked to allow alcohol sales from one county line to the other.
It’s often called a wet-dry referendum, but Madison County Clerk Kenny Barger said that’s a misnomer. He said the question is about making the entire county wet when it comes to selling alcohol. Barger said there’s not an option to make Madison County completely dry.
One of those backing a “yes” vote is Richmond Tourism Director Lori Murphy-Tatum. She said it’s about economic development, creating more businesses and tax revenues, and keeping current taxes in check. Murphy-Tatum wonders about bringing a bourbon distillery to the central Kentucky county, maybe near the White Hall Historic site.
“There is a local man who has a Casius Clay bourbon that is produced. So, you know, there might be an opportunity somewhere down the road to be able to have a distillery there. The leading industry in Richmond and Madison County in 1905 was distilling,” said Murphy-Tatum.
Ownership of White Hall moved from the state to Eastern Kentucky University in February of 2019. When contacted, EKU officials said they have no comment regarding the referendum or the possibility of attracting a distillery near White Hall.
Ironically, Kentucky Distillers Association President Eric Gregory said he got a call recently from someone inquiring about locating a distillery in the central Kentucky county. And the idea of locating such an operation near White Hall, a piece of Kentucky history, intrigues him as a preservationist.
“So, anything to keep White Hall viable and allow people to take advantage of that building and the grounds would be great. I think it would be up to Eastern and the community to decide, but if that was an opportunity I think you’d have some serious conversations with some potential distilleries that would like to discuss it,” said Gregory.
The move to make all of Madison County open to alcoholic beverage sales is not supported by everyone. Jason Eades is the pastor of Viney Fork Baptist Church. The Cookesville Road church has a 225-year history in Madison County. One of his concerns regarding an expansion of alcohol sales is additional access.
“And then it just sets a bad example for those who can’t control the consumption of alcohol, those who can’t handle that. Course we know they become alcoholics and then we know how that affects their careers. We know how that affects their families. We know how that affects others around them,” said Eades.
About halfway between Richmond and Berea along U.S. Highway 25 sits the Tates Creek Baptist Association. Danny Davis is the associational missions strategist and has been a pastor for 40 years. Davis said stability in families is a societal issue, even absent alcohol use.
“And I’m concerned about just the strength of families, the welfare of families, the morals, the building of character. We’re in a very fractured society and the homes are fragmented and anything that is just another that can bring the demise of our society, I’m just opposed to it,” said Davis.
Davis said it may seem like a small issue, but he added sometimes small things have big impacts.
Almost directly across Highway 25 is the Midway Express Service Station.
Store Manager Kamless Patel said he’s asked a half dozen or more times a day, on average, about beer products.
“So people ask me every day, almost ten to 15 people, you have the beer? You have the alcohol? I says sorry, we cannot sell. You go to Richmond. They give me sometimes mad too. He says “why no beer?’ I say “I don’t know sir.”
Just outside the gas station store, opinions about the May 16th wet-dry vote from two Madison County natives differ. Here’s Sam Lear.
“I think it should be. I think we should be able to buy beer here. It would be a good thing. I think,” said Lear.
Not 30 feet away at the gas pump, Donald Held had a different thought.
“Well, I’m a Christian and I don’t drink. I think we’re better off without it,” said Held.
The city of Richmond has been entirely wet for decades and Berea is what’s termed “moist.” A number of restaurants sell alcohol by the drink but there are no liquor stores.
Still, along U.S. 25, just inside the Richmond City line is Liquor Mart Three, a relatively large facility. Co-Owner Vijay Satasiya said it’s been in operation since the 1990s. He’s not supportive of expansion, saying there was a heavy investment to put up the business and an all-wet Madison County could cut into his sales by 60%.
The turnout for this Primary Election is expected to be light. Back in Richmond at the Tourism Commission office, director Lori Murphy-Tatum admitted a low turnout can impact the decision on the referendum question.
“So, that is a bit more difficult having just a Primary election on a non..you know we’re not electing county judges or magistrates or anything like that…so that probably will make it a little bit harder, but I think the group that has kind of got the momentum going will try to do that again,” said Murphy-Tatum.
If Madison County voters do decide to allow alcohol sales across the county, it won’t mean beer, wine, and bourbon would be sold overnight. County Clerk Kenny Barger said if the referendum passes, there would then be the administrative phase, including licensing before alcohol sales expansion would occur.
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