State will seek smoking-ban exemption for private clubs

Publication Date: 2007-05-27

• Author:James Nash
• Publication:THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The state will appeal a Franklin County judge's ruling that applies Ohio's new smoking ban to veteran's halls and other private clubs, Gov. Ted Strickland said today.

Strickland said Ohio voters didn't intend to banish tobacco from the state's estimated 1,500 private clubs when they approved the sweeping restrictions on smoking last November.

He directed Attorney General Marc Dann to appeal Judge David E. Cain's May 17 ruling that struck down the Ohio Department of Health's decision to exempt private clubs from the ban.