A group of citizens, businesses and organizations announced its opposition today to the proposed St. Louis County smoking ban, saying it would have negative economic consequences for the county and also cause a loss of freedom for business owners and smokers.

The campaign committee is named �Citizens Against Proposition N.� The smoking ban will be on the Nov. 3 ballot in St. Louis County as Proposition N.

�A smoking ban in St. Louis County would cause a loss of jobs, a loss of revenue and a loss of freedom,� said Jon Rand, president of Discount Smoke Shops at a news conference this morning in University City. �As long as neighboring counties do not have smoking bans, businesses in St. Louis County will be hurt and tax revenue will decline.�

Rand noted the state of Illinois is estimated to lose $200 million of tax dollars every year since enacting its smoking ban. It went into effect on Jan. 1, 2008. Discount Smoke Shops is headquartered in north St. Louis County and operates about 50 stores in Missouri, Illinois and South Dakota.

Bill Hannegan, director of Keep St. Louis Free, a group that fights to protect personal freedoms and property rights, urged voters to vote �no’ on Proposition N. �The over -whelming majority of county bar and restaurant owners and their staff oppose this smoking ban,� he said. �They have seen the economic harm smoking bans have caused in Ballwin, Arnold, Columbia and Illinois and fear similar losses in St. Louis County.�

Hannegan said he has never seen a smoking ban proposal that is so vehemently opposed by the health groups that usually support smoking bans. Representatives of the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and American Heart Association have all spoken against the county’s proposal and urged the County Council to reject it. After the council approved it, they urged County Executive Charlie Dooley to veto it.

�A smoking ban would only make things worse for many businesses in St. Louis County,� said Fred Teutenberg, president of Fred’s Cheapo Depot, which just opened for business. �There is no doubt a lot of business and tax dollars would head to St. Charles and Jefferson County.� Teutenberg said recent announcements of the closings of Ozzie’s in Westport and Straub’s in Ellisvile, demonstrate today’s difficult business environment.

Marty Ginsburg, owner of the Sports Page Bar & Grill in Chesterfield, has opposed the smoking ban at several St. Louis County Council meetings. Ginsburg’s bar and grill would not qualify for an exemption from the smoking ban as more than 25 percent of his revenue comes from food sales.

Ginsburg says he agrees with Post-Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan about smoking bans. McClellan wrote on Sept. 25: �I believe the decision to permit or not permit smoking should be left to the owner of the establishment.�

The owner of Jon’s Pipe Shop in Clayton, Gerard Ezvan, a native of France, believes a smoking ban would lessen personal freedom. �I became an American citizen because of the freedom that Americans enjoy. A smoking ban diminishes that freedom. It would also hurt the business I have spent many years building up.�

Ezvan belongs to the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association. It’s executive director, Chris McCalla, said this about the proposed smoking ban: �A smoking ban would lead the way in increased unemployment and failing businesses.�

South county businessman Tony Palazzolo also opposes Proposition N. �I find it interesting our government wants to follow Illinois � a state that has to raise taxes and cut billions from its budget partly because of revenue losses from the smoking ban,� he said. �Instead of following Illinois, we should send them a big �thank you’ note for sending all the business our way.�

Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock urges county voters to reject Proposition N. �A smoking ban in St. Louis County would have negative economic consequences for the city of Fenton ,� he said. �We would definitively lose business to surrounding counties.� Hancock and the Fenton Board of Aldermen have rejected smoking bans for their city.”