Measures to widen alcoholic beverage sales in Terrell are a matter of attracting new stores and restaurants to the city proponents says. Little has been heard from opponents.

“The very bottom line is do you want a Target here or don’t you,” said Lynnette Nadeau, the city’s marketing director.

While approval of the measures don’t mean a Target will be built, it is necessary to bring in retailers such as Target, Ms. Nadeau said.

As city officials talk to possible new businesses they are told that alcoholic beverage sales are key.

“I think it’s important for Terrell specifically to even the playing field,” said Danny Booth, head of the Economic Development Corp. “It’s not that they (new businesses) necessarily want to sell it, they just want to be able to if everybody else is.”

It’s important enough that a company developing land near Interstate 20 and Highway 148 hired a marketing firm to help sell the proposal. But the election has been so quiet that the marketing supplied a only a mailer and a few signs.

In early voting, only 227 ballots were cast.

Terrell Dist. 3

Voting can be tricky Saturday. Ballots in the liquor election must be cast at the Terrell subcourthouse, 408 E. College St. Those who live in Dist.3 and wish to vote in that race between incumbent Ricky Jordan and challenger Laura Dodson must vote at 225 Baker Street.

Those who wish to vote in both elections must go to each polling place. Both polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

In early voting only 32 votes were cast in the Dist. 3 race.

Most of Terrell is already wet, with beer and liquor stores and clubs allowed. The measures on Saturday's ballot cover only the areas that have been annexed into the city since the 1960s, mostly along the I20 corridor, since the last alcohol election.

If the measures are approved they would not bring additional bars or retail alcohol outlets to the central city, Mr. Booth said. They would allow grocery stores and other retailers to sell beer and wine as Brookshire’s and Walmart do now.

It also would allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks without having to be a private club.

“The thing that folks need to understand is it will not allow any additional liquor stores to go in,” Mr. Booth said. “It’s strictly liquor at restaurants.”

There has been no organized opposition. Mr. Booth said he’s heard very little discussion as he’s attended civic meetings around the city.

“I’m just amazed there hasn’t been more interest,” he said. “I’m hoping the people voting are voting for this. We’re meeting with these retailers and it’s important.”

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