(Pontiac, MI - WHTC News) - The proverbial last gasp for smokers in a majority of public places in Michigan may have been taken.

Outspoken Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson drew considerable publicity earlier this week when he announced plans to file a lawsuit against the state over enforcing a ban on workplace smoking that goes into effect on May 1^st. He complained that keeping most establishments smoke-free was too much of a burden for his jurisdiction to handle. However, once his objections hit the proverbial fan, Patterson had a change of heart.

Meanwhile, communities that have had no-workplace-smoking bans already in effect are not expecting too many difficulties to come from the new statewide law. In a statement released yesterday Ottawa County Health Department officials expressed confidence that the transition will be smooth through education, training and support initiatives that were put into place when a county-wide smoking ban was enacted two years ago.

-Gary Stevens, WHTC/WYVN News