As the May 7 election to expand alcohol sales in Frisco approaches, some city leaders are organizing in opposition to a political action committee campaigning for its passage.

In October, City Council called a local option election for May regarding the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages after a petition by the political action committee Frisco Committee for Economic Growth was submitted with 9,943 verified signatures.

The petition circulation effort was conducted by Texas Petition Strategies, which has offices in Arlington and Austin. The proposition will ask Frisco voters to vote for or against “the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages.”

If the proposition passes it would pave the way for liquor stores to open in the city of Frisco.

Local groups are mounting opposition because of what they call vague wording in the proposition and the potential to erode the city’s ability to regulate alcohol and alcohol-related establishments through the Specific Use Permit, or SUP, process.

A PAC, Keep Frisco First, has formed in opposition to the measure. Frisco City Council Member Bob Allen–acting as an individual and not speaking for the city or the council–is part of the PAC.

Allen said if the proposition passes it would be damaging to the community and said the PAC was formed to educate residents on the proposition. The PAC is raising money for the effort and developing marketing materials.

At the Feb. 16 City Council meeting Frisco Chamber of Commerce President Tony Felker told the council the chamber board voted to oppose the proposition saying, the language on the ballot itself is vague and “in our opinion misrepresenting of what the true issue is there.”

Felker said there are several factors involved in the chamber’s decision, but one factor that is most concerning is the potential minimization of the SUP process, which he said has led to the quality development of Frisco.

In contrast, FCEG PAC treasurer Jeannean Hefner believes the passage of the proposition would be economically beneficial for Frisco and would not take away local regulation.

“This is a pro-business and pro-taxpayer stance as we join the more than 10,000 Frisco voters who called this election to keep an estimated $42 million dollars in annual sales, nearly $1 million in new sales tax revenues and create more than 400 new jobs,” Hefner said.

According to campaign finance reports, the PAC received $40,000 from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Coalition and $45,000 from the Texas Hospitality Association.