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Beer and wine grocery sales may be on Colorado ballot

DENVER, Colorado: Blake Harrison, a Denver attorney and candidate for the State House, filed an initiative to allow the sale of wine and full-strength beer within grocery stores. The initiative, also known as Initiative 29, was filed this week with the Colorado Legislative Council. A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for December 1st.^[1] According to the submitted proposal, grocery and convenience stores would be allowed to set aside 5% of their floor space for beer and wine sales. State law currently only allows the sale of reduced-strength beer. In turn, liquor stores would be able to designate 5% of their shelf space for food sales, which are currently not allowed.^[2]

In the past couple of years, two similar bills have been shot down. In 2008, a legislative proposal died in committee after a 5-1 Senate Finance Committee vote. The measure was opposed by liquor-store owners who argued the bill would severely impact their businesses. In 2008, however, the general assembly passed a law to allow Sunday liquor sales. In 2009, Rep. Liane "Buffie" McFayden attempted to pass a similar bill but it was defeated in the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee.^[3]

Recall news

George Barich recall succeeds

George Barich

COTATI, California: Cotati City Council member George Barich was recalled in a special recall election held on November 17, 2009 in Sonoma County, California, for voters in the City of Cotati.^[1][2]

• Yes to recall question: 65.7%
• No to recall question: 34.3%

Cotati has 3,986 registered voters and approximately 40% of them cast a vote in the recall election.^[3]

Barich was elected to his current position on the Cotati City Council in November 2008 by a five-vote margin.

Reasons given by Barich's opponents for wanting to recall him included:

• The claim that he misused city stationery to write President Obama.
• The claim that he posted a racially charged picture on a personal website.
• His use of an image of the Cotati official seal on his personal website.
• He voted "no" on a resolution to put a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot; some in the city say that the sales tax was needed to keep Cotati solvent.

Cotati is located about 45 miles north of San Francisco. Its population was estimated in 2006 at about 7,170.

Ballot law news

Georgia ballot access lawsuit continues in 11th Circuit Court

Atlanta, Georgia: Coffield v Handel, a ballot access lawsuit, is currently being debated in the 11th Circuit Court. The case challenges the petition requirement for independent and minor party candidates for the U.S. House in Georgia. Faye Coffield filed her rebuttal brief on November 19. Currently the law stipulates that 5% of the number of registered voters is required for petitions of independent party and minor party candidates to be placed on the ballot. The state argues that the 5% petition requirement has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.^[1]

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