Well, I personally see a great future in a motivated and voting public in Fannin County. One that has a vision of change for the better. And for me that is always about getting the real facts on an issue. Really look at the small mountain counties that now serve in restaurants and see if what the Vote No people say will happen is really happening. If you have an open mind you can research the facts about serving in small towns. And the fact is that it is a very, very good thing in many, many ways. For one, it solves, not exacerbates, social problems. The people of Fannin County need to address poverty, child abuse, drug abuse prevention, literacy, an astounding high school dropout rate, a real library, a fully staffed fire department, lack of health services, animal rights. And that takes tax revenue and a healthy economy. What this referendum is about is not pro/con alcohol, it's about new sources of tax revenue and jobs to be able to solve some of our problems. It's about whether alcoholic beverages will be allowed to be served, then controlled and taxed, in restaurants in Fannin County. It's about how restaurants can be a catalyst for other economic development and the sustaining of our only industries. In a realistic way. Manufacturing is done in China now, it ain't comin' here. That's not going to change. Fannin County is a tourism and real estate economy, and the customers of these industries want more restaurants or they are going to spend their money in other counties. We can get more restaurants by allowing them to serve wine & beer (talk to the owners of the Fannin County restaurants and you'll find that they say they are going to apply only for beer & wine licenses... they don't care about serving liquor and won't apply for that second license). And it is this business revenue and sales tax staying in our county that will raise the funds to solve our problems. It's a deeper vision. one of economic and social development.

This is a Fannin County referendum. I've heard from some people on the streets that voting Yes in the November 6 election would bring Ruby Tuesdays and Longhorn out to the intersection of 515/5 and contribute to the ugly clearcutting on 515. But that's not under Fannin County jurisdiction, folks. That's in the city limits of Blue Ridge. It has already happened and it is not a part of this referendum. 515/5 already has more Home Depot, Waffle House, Wendy's, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Pizza Buffet etc. red & orange signs that we should rename it Arteriorsclerosis Alley. And between the Fannin County line northbound on 515 to the entrance of Blue Ridge there are 50 billboards. If this referendum passes in Fannin County, what we hope for in the Ordinance is for locally owned small cafes and restaurants to blossom. Think Toccoa Riverside, Goodfellas, Enricos, kind of restaurants. Bars? Please. Has anyone of you emailed or called Commissioner Ledford to ask him what the ordinance will look like? You'll like what he has to say. It isn't like you have to apply through the secret service to talk to our commissioners. Or go to a Commission meeting. Or the upcoming Precinct meetings.

I think that this referendum is the start of a movement here to nudge government inaction into action. We want a plan, a vision, a team of elected representatives who actually lead. Let that start with your vote.