This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 22, 2011 - Former St. Louis County Council member Barbara Fraser is preparing to kick start the efforts of Smoke-Free St. Louis to persuade the council and its residents to end provisions exempting bars from a county-wide smoking ban in most public places.
Fraser called the renewed effort ''another step in the process'' to discourage smoking and protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.
Fraser, a Democrat, has been keeping a low profile in recent months, after losing a contest last fall for the state Senate to Republican John Lamping.
But she said in an interview Thursday that she now is prepared to energize the anti-smoking effort in St. Louis County. Fraser is board chairman for Smoke-Free St. Louis, a coalition of various groups and individuals.
During her four years on the council, Fraser was a major player in getting the anti-smoking initiative on the county's November 2009 ballot. It was approved by 65 percent of the voters.
But during her last weeks on the council late last year, Fraser fought unsuccessfully against granting a smoking-ban exemption to Harrah's casino in Maryland, so it could allow smoking in its lounges. Backers said the exemption was in line with the existing exceptions allowed for certain businesses with liquor licenses.
After losing that battle, Fraser has decided that the best way to counter is go after the bar exemption entirely.
