Kudos to The Star for such a fine New Year's gift. The Jan. 1 lead article, "Study: Smoking ban saved lives, hearts," was terrific. The paper's decision to run this on Jan. 1 was brilliant, an eye-opener on a day when many of us are seeking to enforce new resolutions and are contemplating how to begin the New Year.

The purpose of this My View is to urge Gov. Mitch Daniels and the General Assembly to make Indiana a smoke-free state. Let's start the year off right, save hearts and lives, model healthy behavior, protect all Hoosiers in all public places and provide a wholesome environment for our children.

I founded the Zionsville Smoke Free Coalition in 2002 by gathering a group of like-minded residents, teachers, physicians and business owners. We set as our goal to make our town smoke free. It took four years, countless meetings and telephone conferences to get to the point where our Town Council was ready to listen to the needs of our residents, and on Aug. 1, 2006, we successfully implemented our comprehensive smoking ordinance. We are proud to have one of the strongest ordinances in the state and, as of today, have not had one complaint. In fact, every member in our coalition has reported terrific feedback from the community.

All the statistics emphatically point to one fact: Smoking ordinances save lives. Legislation that protects the public from secondhand smoke is the essential step that Indiana needs now. Right now.

Let me tell you what I have learned: Each year 10,300 Hoosiers die from smoking or secondhand smoke. This figure will decline immediately and dramatically if we are able to implement a comprehensive statewide smoking ban. Incidentally, this number matches the population of Zionsville.

Comprehensive smoking ordinances save lives. Ordinances protect every person, regardless of age or job status. Currently, without any protective state laws , we are forcibly exposed to the personal whims of owners or managers of businesses and restaurants. This is haphazard, unfair and unhealthy. An ordinance ensures that everyone will have the right to breathe clean air in all indoor establishments.

The only inconvenience to smokers is that they must walk outside to enjoy their cigarette. This small courtesy is the difference between sickness and health, life and death. The only way to keep indoor air clean and healthy is to restrict all smoking. There is no such thing as a nonsmoking section in a restaurant; all indoor air is contaminated once a cigarette has been lit.

All businesses and restaurants are treated fairly and equitably with a comprehensive ordinance. Also, every employee will be guaranteed clean air. I have received numerous phone calls from waiters, waitresses and service staff who are frustrated that they must breathe smoke during their work shifts, cannot afford to change jobs and are afraid to demand clean air from their bosses for fear of losing their jobs. Everyone deserves clean air and we share a collective responsibility to protect every resident, guest and worker in Indiana.

For a cleaner environment, a healthier future for our children and a truly safe workplace for all employees, we must make the logical and correct choice of a comprehensive smoking ordinance for Indiana.