Local News
Liquor option voted down in Fate
By Jim Hardin
Herald-Banner Staff
Fate voters on Tuesday turned down a proposition for the sale of all alcoholic beverages by a 202-151 margin.
Mayor Bill Broderick said he “supports what the citizens of our community have elected to do.”
The mayor said the 353 votes — 274 on election day — was a “good turnout.”
Approval of the proposition would have allowed bars and liquor stores in Fate. It also would have allowed restaurants to serve liquor by the drink.
Two years ago, Fate voters approved the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. That vote was 234 to 198.
Broderick said there didn’t appear to be any organized groups pushing for approval or denial of the recent proposition. During a drive through Fate Tuesday, a lone sign was found at an exit at the Woodcreek subdivision. The handmade sign stated: “Today vote no for liquor stores and bars.”
There was confusion among some Fate residents, according to Broderick. He said before the election that some residents thought the election was only for liquor by the drink in restaurants.
The ballot, however, asked for a vote for or against “the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed beverages.”
Glenda Denton, Rockwall County’s election administrator, said before the election that wording on the ballot was based on the application and petition submitted to the county. The election was called by Rockwall County Commissioners after it was determined the original application and petition had the required number of signatures.
Broderick said he, city council representatives and city staff members had to choose their words carefully when they talked about the upcoming election. He said they could not voice make statements about whether they favored or opposed the proposition.
“We could not weigh in on the issue or get in the middle of it positively or negatively, whatever,” the mayor said.
Broderick said he expects to see another liquor election in the future. He said there has to be a one-year waiting period before the issue can return to a Fate ballot.
Statewide, voters approved all 11 proposed constitutional amendments. Rockwall County voters didn’t go along with voters statewide as they rejected two proposed state constitutional amendments. They voted against No. 1 by a 1,861 to 1,740 margin and No. 4 by a 1,955 to 1,637 vote.
Proposition 1 authorizes financing methods for municipalities and counties to acquire buffer zones or open spaces next to military bases. Proposition No. 4 establishes a national research university fund to help emerging research universities achieve national prominence as major research universities.
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