Smoking ordinance needs a correction

Tuesday’s editorial of the Kokomo Tribune about the city’s no-smoking ordinance misses some important points. Although I support the goals of our city council that wrote and passed the ordinance, there is a serious legal issue that makes one aspect of the ordinance, as written, unenforceable. The current ordinance is unfair and is already proving to be harmful to several small, locally owned businesses.

My responsibility as mayor is to make sure that local ordinances are enforced, and when problems in the ordinances are presented, I take them into account. While I am a non-smoker and support efforts to limit exposure to secondhand smoke, the real issue is that the no-smoking ordinance, as written, creates an un-level playing field for too many local businesses. As a result, some businesses are now suffering because of this imbalance.

As I said when the city council passed the ordinance, I favor laws that establish healthier working and dining environments and believe such progressive laws, when well written, encourage economic development. The amendment to the ordinance that the city council made, creating the now famous smoking exemptions, has created a competitive disadvantage for many local businesses.

I have already talked with the city council, many of whom opposed the amendment, and believe that some would like to correct the un-level playing field by removing the problematic amendment. In the meantime, I will continue to focus our efforts on helping our vital small businesspersons, who do so much to help our community, while doing my constitutional duty to enforce the council’s no-smoking ordinance as written.

Matt McKillip

Mayor of Kokomo

Vote for Mike Kole for secretary of state

On Nov. 7, we, the voters of the state of Indiana, will go to the polls to elect the best individuals to represent our voice and our future. What many don’t know though is that the Indiana Elections Division, under the current secretary of state, held its own election of sorts back in July. Due to last-minute legislation, whose sole purpose was to prevent minor-party candidates from seeking office, the Indiana Elections Division refused to certify 11 very worthwhile and qualified candidates. In some instances, these candidates were the only opposition to an incumbent seeking re-election. Without even giving the voters the opportunity to judge the performance of the incumbent and to decide on the best candidate for the job, the Indiana Elections Division reappointed these incumbents to additional terms in office. The voters were not consulted, no debates were held, and no voter input was sought. The Indiana Elections Division, under the current secretary of state, took away the rights of the voters. The current secretary of state failed the voters of the state of Indiana.

Secretary of State candidate Mike Kole strongly supports the rights of voters. Mike believes that Hoosiers deserve fair elections and that the voters should be the deciders of who represents our voice in government. He supports computerized voting machines that produce an audit trail, so that all voters can rest assured that their vote was cast accurately and that it was counted properly. He advocates the end of redrawing political districts to support any political party or agenda. But, more importantly, Mike will put the voice of the voter first and return integrity and accountability to the office of secretary of state.

On Nov. 7, we have the opportunity to send a clear message that the rights of the voters can’t be dismissed and that we won’t stand for closed-door appointments by committees. I urge you to vote for a candidate that will protect the interest of the voters, who will support open, fair elections, and who will take every measure to ensure that every vote counts. I urge you to join me in voting for Mike Kole for Indiana secretary of state.

Karen A. Wolf

LaPorte