By Kevin Woster

This just in from the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office: The petitions are in, the campaign to refer the expanded ban on smoking is under way.

Don Rose and Pete Thompson of Sioux Falls, Mark O’Neill of Henry and Deadwood’s own Mike Trucano have signed the document filed today to begin the petition drive.

They’ll have to hustle to get the required 16,776 signatures by the end of June. And then the real work will begin - convincing a majority of voters in the 2010 general election to reject HB1240, which extends the smoking ban to bars, casinos and restaurants that sell alcohol.

Trucano knows it’s an uphill fight, but not an impossible one.

“I think there’s a chance that the people of the state of south Dakota will not agree with what the Legilature and the governor have done on this,” he told Mount Blogmore moments ago.

So, agree? Disagree? Or stepped outside for a smoke?