Vote for clean air in municipal election

Support Champaign's smoke-free ordinance in the April 17 election by voting for any three of the following candidates: Patricia Avery, Tom Bruno, Giraldo Rosales or Annette Williams. Hundreds of us fought long and hard for over three years to see this ordinance go into effect. It would not have happened without the support of Champaign City Council Members Bruno and Rosales. Ours was an uphill battle – no doubt one of the toughest in the nation – exacerbated by a mayor who opposed it from day one.

Our recent visits to Champaign restaurants and bars confirm that most employees love this new ordinance that protects their health and welfare. To those of us who avoided smoky places in the past, a new world of entertainment venues is finally available. Now that the smoke has cleared, downtown Champaign is so much more appealing than ever before. Studies around the country have now shown that when smoke-free ordinances like ours are in effect, rates of cancer and other smoking-related illnesses decrease and community health improves.