The Pearland anti-smoking referendum

Remember the kids from Pearland who got an anti-smoking referendum on their city's ballot after failing to get a measure passed by the city council? Well, now they're campaiging to get it passed next month.

Voters will decide Nov. 6 if members of a sixth-grade science class had a good idea when they proposed a ban on smoking in most public places.

The issue has been quiet since last spring, when members of the Sablatura Middle School class presented their proposed smoking ban ordinance to City Council. They also handed in petitions with enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot.

The students are seventh-graders now and in junior high, but they haven't forgotten.

"We're thinking about having a car wash or something to raise money to make signs," said Mitchell Hoffman. Last spring he was upset because the council didn't adopt the ordinance without putting it before voters first. "That means I'll have to breathe smoke for seven more months," he said.

Savannah Owens said she plans to meet with other students to make signs for yards and polling places.

The campaign has gotten her interested in politics, she said. "I'm planning to go to Harvard Law School," she said.

She's persuaded at least her mom and dad to vote for the smoking ban.

Her father, Seth Owens, said he wouldn't be surprised to find his daughter's name on a ballot in the future.

"She said she wants to become a lawyer and fix some of the things she thinks is wrong," he said. "I warned her that sometimes we wouldn't see the same way on some issues, but I agree with her on this one."

The ordinance would ban smoking in restaurants, businesses and other public places, including outdoor stadiums and within 25 feet of entrances to such facilities.

Good for them. May they continue to be civically active after this issue is decided.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on October 23, 2007 to Election 2007