Dear Editor

In the upcoming City Council election, one of the candidates, Mike Benham, has aligned himself with the anti-smoking advocacy group. A non-smoking agenda would impact our local casino industry which is Mesquite’s largest employer and the cornerstone of our tourism based economy. Other anti-smoking advocates have argued that a non-smoking environment would not affect employment, visitation, or revenue, but I disagree. No one knows their customers better than the entities that cultivate them and are dependent upon them for their continuing existence, and if there was a compelling economic case for these casino’s to be non-smoking, that policy would have already been implemented. I don’t believe that Mesquite can afford or deserves a Councilman that is taking an anti-business stance against our most important industry. There are better choices available.

Jimmy Wike

A non-smoker

Mesquite, NV