Galveston County Daily News (Internet / Print) 02/23/06 http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=29617ca2532b21f6 The debate about public smoking will light up at city hall as council members decide whether to approve a far-reaching smoking ban that will affect hundreds of businesses. The proposed ordinance, which would ban smoking in most places the public gathers, has inspired some huffing and puffing and aggressive petitioning on both sides. Louis B. Lerma, commander for the American Legion Post 47, said he supports the ban. American Legion would be exempt under the ordinance, and Lerma is an occasional smoker. “I believe that, to a certain point, we should have our rights to smoke or not,” said Lerma, who also works at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Lerma said he supports government health initiatives. “I’m pretty much for the ban.”