By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — A group calling itself the Dry County Coalition says it will press for changes on the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which the group claims has shown a bias toward granting alcohol permits, even in dry counties and even in the face of opposition from local officials.

Larry Thomas of Heber Springs, one of the group’s organizers, said the coalition hopes to air its grievances in a private meeting with Gov. Mike Beebe.

“We do want to talk to him, read our grievances to him and ask him to consider our situation — and replace some board members, if necessary. I’m not going to mention their names at this time,” Thomas said Monday.

Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said the governor is willing to meet with any group that asks for a meeting.

Thomas said the movement grew out of reaction to the five-member board’s Feb. 18 decision to approve a liquor permit for Anderson House Inn, a bed-and-breakfast in Heber Springs.

Heber Springs is in Cleburne County, a dry county. Anderson House Inn’s permit application was opposed by the local police chief, mayor, city council and sheriff.

After the board approved the permit, “some of our city leaders asked if I could get 1,000 people to a rally at the Capitol steps,” said Thomas, a missionary with the Little Red River Baptist Association, an organization of 25 Southern Baptist churches in Cleburne County.

The Baptist association began organizing a protest — a rally is set for May 30 on the Capitol steps — but the movement has evolved into a non-denominational coalition with members in several other counties, including Ashley, Benton, Craighead, Faulkner and Van Buren, Thomas said.

He said the coalition does not oppose all alcohol sales, but that it believes the ABC Board routinely ignores the will of voters in dry counties.

“For example, up in Benton County … it’s a dry county and they have 120 private clubs, so I don’t know how you could hardly call it a dry county,” Thomas said.

ABC Board member Ron Fuller of Little Rock said Monday he voted to approve the permit for Anderson House Inn despite opposition from local officials because the owner, a World War II veteran, was “about as good a permit holder as we’ve seen.”

Fuller said he considers every application on its merits. He said that in the 12 years he has been on the board, no decision has been reversed on appeal to circuit court, and only one case was remanded so the board could receive more evidence.

“I’m proud of that record. I’m proud that I was able to help amass that, I was able to help in following the laws of Arkansas,” Fuller said.

To promote economic development, the Legislature in 2003 expanded the definition of a private club, opening the door for restaurants, including those in dry counties, to apply for and obtain private club licenses.

ABC Director Michael Langley said Monday that groups opposed to the issuance of liquor permits in dry counties are wrong to aim their criticisms at the ABC Board.

“To effect the change I think they’re looking for would require a change in the law, and that’s going to occur at the Legislature,” Langley said.

Thomas acknowledged that state law allows permits to be issued in dry counties, but he said the board could be more discriminating.

“When any restaurant applies for a permit, they’re granting it,” he said.