Dorchester County Council members didn’t appear favorably disposed toward a smoke-free workplace ordinance introduced Tuesday.  They voted 6-1 to postpone consideration  until February after Councilman George Bailey asked for more time, and only after new Chairman Larry Hargett said the council should at least discuss the issue in committee instead of killing it outright.

Councilman Willie Davis voted against postponement.

Hargett’s tepid support – he said he wasn’t sure he would support final passage – came despite the fact that he introduced the ordinance.

During the open comment period, speakers in favor of the ordinance outnumbered those against by three to one. Yet among the council members, only Davis and Richard Rosebrock indicated support for the ban.

Others said they don’t smoke, don’t like smoking, even don’t like to patronize businesses that allow smoking, but probably can’t support a government ban.

Arguments boiled down to how far the government should go to protect the health of its citizens before it overreaches and infringes upon individuals’ chance to make their own decisions.

Bailey drew some crowd support when he told of how he didn’t always follow doctor’s orders to wear a hat and sunscreen, despite a bout with melanoma, and how it would be his fault if he were to become ill again, not anyone else’s.

“Are we going to tell people in Dorchester County you can’t eat a candy bar?” he said.

Councilman Jay Byars said he comes from a smoking family and now gets short of breath if he walks into a business that allows smoking.  Yet philosophically, he can’t support the government regulation, he said.

Summerville resident Deb Campeau, however, said the government has a long and proud history of protecting workers.  It’s something that separates the U.S. from third-world countries, she said.  

At her job, the hospital must protect workers from potential radiation exposure, bloodborne pathogens and other dangers.  To say it’s OK for restaurant and bar employees to be exposed to more than 50 carcinogens is discriminatory, she said.

In this economy, it isn’t so easy to just say “get another job,” said Dianne Wilson of the S.C. African American Tobacco Control Network and the Smoke-Free Lowcountry Coalition.

Dr. Otis Engelman, a family physician in Summerville, said council has a duty to protect residents.  If the problem were tainted water supply, unsanitary restaurant kitchens or locally-produced air pollution, it would certainly have to act, he said.

Though most agreed on the dangers of second-hand smoke, some did question the science. Mike Murphree said he wanted to see a death certificate of someone who died from second-hand smoke, and Councilman David Chinnis said the climate change scandal has made him question all peer-reviewed science.

Elizabeth Kennedy, a Summerville resident and registered nurse, didn’t have a death certificate in hand, but she did have personal and professional experience.

“I am a child of a cigarette smoker.  I have lung damage from that,” she said.

The lung damage makes her more susceptible to colds, she said.  Her sister, who never smoked, has emphysema, she said.

To a man, council members said they’d love a smoke-free environment. Chinnis said proponents should take whatever money they’re spending lobbying council and instead lobby restaurants to make the change on their own.  

Residents should be encouraged to eat at restaurants like the Red Pepper that have gone smoke-free, he said.

“I can’t support first reading and you can put me down for ‘no’ on two and three if it gets to that point,” he said.

Murphree also suggested letting market forces dictate smoking policies.

“These issues will work themselves out,” he said.

Councilman Bill Hearn said the recent election showed people don’t want more government.  All he heard on the campaign trail, Bailey said, was less taxes, less regulation and less government.

A line must be drawn, Hearn said.  He agreed that people should be encouraged to vote with their feet by eating at smoke-free establishments, and said he was happy to hear Oscar’s has gone smoke-free.

Ann Condor, an active Tea Party member, said she was concerned about the government taking away freedoms and promised to work against the re-election of any council member who voted for the ordinance.

Rosebrock, who said he’ll support the ordinance because it’s a health issue, asked supporters to contact their council members to persuade them to vote in favor of the ban.

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3