Fight Continues for Andrews Alcohol
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: November 4, 2010
ANDREWS -- Just two nights ago, Andrew County residents voted to keep alcohol sales out of the county by only 82 votes.
But this doesn't mean the fight is over.
Citizens for Our Cause, a group formerly known as Promote Andrews, wants alcohol in, and is gearing up for round two.
The groups new plan is to get Andrews wet precinct by precinct.
They are going to go after the precincts where the majority voted for alcohol.
Citizens for Our Cause has dubbed a new representative in Andrews who says the group is not going to give up until they see some change.
Ricardo Trevino has lived in Andrews for 35 years.
"This is actually the wettest dry county in the world," Trevino said.
And thats why he wants change.
He is the owner of El Jeffito's in Andrews and the new leader in the campaign to bring alcohol to the county.
"Alcohol has been around me and in this town forever we're only gonna change where people buy it not who's drinking it," said Trevino.
His cause lost by 82 votes two nights ago, but he is not giving up.
His new plan is to go after the precincts. Specifically the south west side where his restaraunt stands. It is known as an area where alcohol sales would be accepted.
"If we can divide up the precincts these two south precincts would pass it from what i understand. I think we put a better effort into it I think we can do it," said Trevino.
And his position that is displayed proudly outside of his restaraunt, has come with sacrifice.
He has lost a lot of business and is going to step away for a while.
"Supporting it has hurt business quite a bit but this is the way I feel so i want to stand behind it. I am going to take a break from owning and operating this restaraunt. I think if i can dedicate most of my time as the opposition group does... I can put forth the effort and get this county to go wet," said Trevino.
The opposing side is not going to give up either.
100 years is something Trevino hopes Andrews does not add on to.
And thinks he has enough signatures to win over this dry county next time around.
"Our plan is to get it back on the ballot and do this again. to Try to get more people registered to vote, it makes sense to me to save some lives on 385 or 1788," said Trevino.
Trevino feels they only lost because many young registered voters think they can't vote for alcohol if they are not old enough to drink it.
He said next time he is going to make sure more people are aware that they can vote and that it matters.
Citizens for our cause is going to begin getting petitions validated and will try to get it on the ballot again in May.
