CHAMPAIGN – The C-U Smokefree Alliance intends to make retaining the local indoor smoking ban a key issue in Champaign's city council elections.

The alliance sent a letter via certified mail on Feb. 9 to the nine primary candidates for the three at-large city council seats in Champaign, asking them to sign a statement of support for Champaign's Clean Indoor Air Ordinance.

The statement indicates that the signer "will not weaken, reverse or repeal this ordinance" and would only support amendments that would strengthen the ban.

Candidates were asked to return the letter by this Sunday.

Candidates who sign the statement will get the group's backing in both the Feb. 27 primary and the April 17 consolidated election, group President Scott Hays said.

Those who don't sign or return the pledge will be presumed to favor a total or partial repeal of the smoking ban, Hays said.

"Our goal is to get the word out to the members of the Champaign community that support the smoking ban," Hays said. "Our goal is to not allow the issue to remain in the background this election."

Six at-large (citywide) council candidates will advance out of the primary. Three at-large members will be elected on April 17, along with a District 4 council member and the mayor. Mayor Jerry Schweighart, a staunch opponent of the smoking ban, is unopposed for re-election as mayor. Council member Marci Dodds, a smoking ban supporter, is unopposed in District 4.

Hays said he was told by several people that opponents of the smoking ban are working to elect a majority on the city council.

That convinced the C-U Smokefree Alliance to get involved in the election, he said.

Next week, the group will announce which council candidates support the ban. Alliance members will likely campaign door to door for candidates, Hays said. The organization also could spend in excess of $1,000 on election advertising, he said.

The group also will send an e-mail and letters to several hundred of its members and supporters, Hays said.

A survey by The News-Gazette showed that among the nine primary candidates, incumbent council members Tom Bruno and Giraldo Rosales and newcomers Annette Williams and Patricia Avery support retaining the smoking ban in its entirety.

Council candidates Michael Henley and Karen Foster support a total repeal, while Bill Glithero supports allow smoking in establishments with a Class A liquor license, which includes most bars, and veteran's clubs.

Deborah Frank Feinen also supports repeal of the ban in bars and veteran's clubs and said she would consider a total repeal if sales tax receipts show a negative impact on business.

Council candidate Freddie Gordon did not respond to a questionnaire by The News-Gazette.

The city council approved the indoor smoking ban in May 2006 in a 5-4 vote. The ban took effect Jan. 31 in Champaign. Urbana has a similar ban.

"My take on this is, it's about toxic environments in public places," Hays said. "It's a public health issue."

Council candidates Foster and Glithero said they won't sign the pledge, while Bruno said he has signed and returned it and welcomes the C-U Smokefree Alliance's help.

"The way it's written is heavy handed and, no matter what happens in the future, you're bound by it," Glithero said.

"I favor businesses having a right to choose," Foster said. "I'm not a smoker. The health issue, I feel everyone has a right to choose if they want to walk into a place."

Asked if she's worried the issue could hurt her campaign, Foster responded: "The voters are going to choose."

Bruno said he's proud of his vote and doesn't think local bar business has suffered.

"I'm convinced we did the right thing," he said. "I would say by a 3-to-1 margin, people favored the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance."