A citizen activist is spearheading an effort to get a referendum on the November ballot that would allow liquor stores in East Ridge.

Earl Wilson, a retired pharmaceutical salesman who serves on the city’s housing commission and beer board, is currently circulating petitions to gather voters’ signatures to make it happen.

So far, there has been a groundswell of support.

“Almost everyone I’ve spoken with to sign has done so,” Wilson said Thursday in a telephone interview. “People are optimistic and excited.”

East Ridge’s Charter forbids the sale of liquor in package stores. A charter change allowing sales requires a referendum, officials said.

To get the referendum on the ballot requires a petition be filed with the Hamilton County Election Commission containing signatures of no less than 10 percent of eligible voters who cast votes in the 2018 gubernatorial election.

Officials with the election commission told Wilson that the number of signatures needed is 705, as the total votes cast for governor in the city of East Ridge in November of 2018 was 7,046.

Election commission officials said that people signing the petition are not required to have voted in the governor’s election, but must be eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum.

Wilson said that East Ridge and Collegedale are the only cities in Hamilton County that are “property rights” cities. He said that means that people who own property – a business, a vacant lot, rental property – but don’t reside in the city may vote in municipal elections.

Non-resident property owners are not eligible to sign the petition. However, they are eligible to vote in the referendum.

Wilson said that the petitions are currently in a few locations around the city, such as The Party Mart on Ringgold Road and The Best Western Motel. He said additional locations will be identified in the near future.

Anyone interested in signing the petition or helping in the effort is urged to contact Wilson via e-mail at [email protected]. Wilson can also be reached by private messenger on Facebook.

The deadline for the petition to be returned to the election commission is August 23, Wilson said.

City Manager Chris Dorsey said that by law city officials cannot advocate for or against any potential referendum.

“This is a citizen-driven effort,” Dorsey said. “(The city’s) position is neutral.”