Winona Votes Wet

It’s election day across the nation, and while we’re all reading the tea leaves nationally with gubernatorial and congressional contests, all 602 pairs of eyes in Winona were focused on one thing…will alcohol be sold there?

Tonight, the voters answered yes.

The unofficial tally was 124 for and 106 against.

At stake is what one side sees as the potential for increased revenue and growth…and the other side fears will be a very different city…

Last spring, all of Justice of the Peace Precinct Four voted on alcohol sales, and the result was a 94 to 94 tie.

By law, when there is a tie, the proposition fails. But later, it was found that 7 votes were ineligible and a judge ordered the vote repeated, but this time it only affects the city of Winona.

Mayor Rusty Smith has backed the proposition this time around and the city council met last week to prepare for the possibility of passage. He sees liquor sales as the boost the town needs.