Smoking ban clears first hurdle.

Publication Date: 2009-03-04

• Author:Jordan Schrader
• Publication:Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times

House committee supports measure

A proposed state ban on smoking in public places passed its first test Tuesday in a legislative committee.

In one potential sign of changing fortunes, the proposal now has the unanimous backing of the N.C. House's Buncombe County delegation, which voted 2-1 against a ban two years ago.

The House Health Committee approved the measure on a voice vote Tuesday with support from Rep. Bruce Goforth. Goforth switched his vote from 2007 when he was one of a minority of Democrats whose opposition kept a ban from passage on the House floor.

Goforth said he saw the issue then as one of property rights but since has been approached by local restaurant and hotel owners who want to go smoke-free but would prefer to tell customers it's a state mandate.

"The cost of repairs, the cost of repainting, the cost of ventilation for these smoking areas is just tremendous," he said.