CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte's hospitality industry is vowing to fight a proposed smoking ban.

Earlier this week County Commissioners asked the State Legislature to clear the way to make restaurants, bars and work places in Mecklenburg County smoke free.

The President of Charlotte's Hospitality and Tourism Alliance, Mohammad Jenatian says Commissioners should spend their time working on what he calls more important issues.

A state law prevents local governments from restricting smoking.

Commissioners want the state to exclude Mecklenburg from that law.