Gatesville Petition to Expand Alcohol Sales Falls Short, Plans Return

Gatesville residents will not decide on expanding local alcohol sales this November after a petition campaign led by community organizer Yvonne Williams failed to meet the signature threshold, Williams reported on November 18, 2025. The petition fell about 450 signatures short of the number required to qualify for the November 2025 ballot, leaving the city s current ordinance in place for the coming year.

The ordinance, adopted in 2012, allows beer and wine sales and permits mixed drinks only in restaurants that hold a food & beverage certificate. Williams said she organized the petition so voters could weigh potential changes to that framework. With the petition effort coming up short, proponents plan to regroup and mount another campaign for 2026 that will prioritize community education and building a broader volunteer base.

Local media coverage included reactions from residents on both sides of the issue, reflecting differing views about economic opportunity and community character. Supporters of expanded sales have argued that loosening restrictions could help local restaurants and retailers attract more customers, and could align Gatesville with nearby communities that have fewer limits. Opponents have raised concerns about public safety and preserving the small town atmosphere.

The failure to reach the ballot has immediate practical effects for business owners and municipal planners. Without a public vote, any legislative change must wait either for another successful petition, or for action by the Gatesville City Council. For restaurants interested in serving mixed drinks more broadly, the existing food & beverage certificate pathway remains the only local option. For residents who favor a public decision, the shortfall underscores the challenges of citizen driven campaigns, including volunteer recruitment and voter outreach.

The organizers plan a longer lead time for the 2026 campaign, focusing on educating residents about what a change would mean in practice and on expanding the petition operation. That approach suggests a strategic shift from signature gathering to building sustained civic engagement, which could influence turnout and public debate if the measure reaches the ballot next year.

The episode highlights the mechanics of local democracy in Coryell County, where ballot access depends on community capacity to run organized petition drives and on voter appetite for change. Gatesville s policy on alcohol sales has been stable for more than a decade, and the coming year will determine whether residents get another opportunity to revisit that policy at the ballot box. For additional coverage, KXXV published a full article and video interview with the organizer.