Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/660067
STAFF: Mark Pursell, C.E.O., mark@ipcpr.org; Kip Talley, Sr. Dir., Federal Legislative Affairs, kip@ipcpr. org; Matt Dogali, Sr. Dir., State Legislative Affairs, matt@ipcpr.org; Rachel Hyde, Legislative Affairs Manager, rachel@ipcpr.org; Dawn Conger, Sr. Dir., Assoc. Member Relations, dawn@ipcpr.org. OFFICERS: Craig Cass, President (Charlotte, N.C.); Ken P. Neumann, 1st V.P., (Libertyville, Ill.); John Anderson, 2nd V.P., (Washington, D.C.); Greg Zimmerman, Treasurer, (Lemoyne, Pa.); Scott Regina, Secretary, (Virginia Beach, Va.); Finnie Helmuth, Ex-Officio, (Cockeysville, Md.). BOARD MEMBERS: Veronica Fenner, Colorado Springs, Co.; Terry Gallagher, Boulder, Co.; Dave Garofalo, Salem, N.H.; Mike Howe, Tampa, Fla.; Mame Kendall, Bridgeville, Pa.; Todd Naifeh, Oklahoma City, Ok.; Mike Peacock, Euless, Texas; Kent Pennington, Addison, Texas; Vartan Seferian, Phoenix, Ariz.; Reagan Starner, Tuscaloosa, Al.; Jim Young, Pinellas Park, Fla. International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailer's Association (IPCPR), 513 Capitol Court N.E., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20002, Tel: (202) 621-8064, Web: www.ipcpr.org; Email: info@ipcpr.org, Twitter: @theIPCPR. 12 SMOKESHOP February 2016 LOCKWOOD TRADE JOURNAL CO., INC. 3743 Crescent Street, 2nd Floor Long Island City, NY 11101 Tel: (212) 391-2060, Fax: (212) 827-0945 sales@smokeshopmag.com www.smokeshopmag.com NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN Bob Olesen, Advertising Sales Director Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 134 b.olesen@lockwoodpublications.com AUSTRIA, FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM Robert M. Lockwood, President Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 109 robert@lockwoodpublications.com BENELUX, IBERIA, INDONESIA, INDOCHINA, SOUTH AMERICA, ITALY, SPAIN Frederick A. Lockwood, Vice President Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 107 f.lockwood@lockwoodpublications.com BULGARIA, GREECE, SCANDINAVIA, TURKEY Rob Lockwood Jr., Publisher Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 130 rob@lockwoodpublications.com ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, OCEANA Kelly Hobbs Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 106 k.hobbs@lockwoodpublications.com EASTERN EUROPE Frank Schuetze, Sales Representative Tel: +(49)(30) 645-7212 Fax: +(49)(30) 6409-1350 f.schuetze@lockwoodpublications.com George Lockwood, Special Sales Representative Tel: (413) 548-9700, Fax: (413) 548-9722 167 Shutesbury Road, Leveret, MA 01054 lockwood.george@gmail.com Lockwood Trade Journal Co., Inc. publishes trade and consumer magazines covering the entire tobacco industry including Smoke, Tobacco International, Tobacco Products International, and the Tobacco International Buyers' Guide & Global Directory. It also produces the EuroTab tobacco merchandise trade show in Eastern Europe (lockwoodpublications.com). Smokeshop Magazine is printed with EnviroTech inks for web offset printing that have renewable resource content of approximately 27 percent, including vegetable oils and pine resin. T H E I N D U S T RY A U T H O R I T Y O N T O B A C C O R E TA I L I N G Official Publication of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Beyond Washington, D.C.: The Importance of the 2016 State Elections This year is a presidential election year, and the political season is in full swing. The media and the public are focused on horse race coverage of the presidential spread as candidates compete to become the next Democrat and Republican nominees for president. Due to the emphasis on federal elections, state elections are often overshadowed and receive a lack of adequate coverage despite their critical importance to the direction of our country. As a small business owner, the policies set by elected officials in your state typically have the greatest impact on day-to-day operations. Issues of importance to retail tobacconists such as tax increases, smoking bans, and age increase legislation are decided on the state level. This year alone nearly 500 bills that could impact your business have already been introduced. Thus, the candidates you elect as governor and to the state legislature are critical to the future success of your business. Currently 25 "red states" have achieved a Republican trifecta—control of the state senate, state house, and the executive branch. According to calcula- tions by professor Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia, since President Obama was elected in 2009, Republicans have gained 11 governorships, 913 state legislative seats, and 30 state legislative chambers. Democrats control sev- en "blue states." The remaining states are considered "purple states" meaning party control is split. In all, 86 state legislative chambers will hold elections in 2016. Of these chambers, 20 are considered "battleground chambers." These competitive chambers either have a narrow partisan difference, a significant number of competitive districts, or both. Democrats maintain an advantage during presidential election years due to increased voter turnout from traditionally left leaning demographics. Party line voters may cause some "red states" and "purple states" to flip to Democrat control in 2016. While Republican controlled states are generally friendlier to the premium tobacco industry, support is not always dictated along party lines. For exam- ple, the newly elected Democrat Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, previously worked on behalf of our industry to kill a massive tax increase in the state House of Representatives. This is why is so important for you, the vot- er, to be educated on candidates' positions on issues that impact your business prior to Election Day, Tuesday, November 8. —Matt Dogali, IPCPR Senior Director of State Government Affairs IPCPR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE