CHAMPAIGN - Smokers in Champaign will get a break - at least for now.

Nearly a year after establishing a smoking ban for bars and restaurants, the City Council reversed itself this week, lifting the ban that took effect Jan. 1.

The council voted 5-4 without comment Tuesday, drawing sighs of relief from smokers and anger from ban proponents.

Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton said talk about the city's smoking ban, which took effect Jan. 1, died down earlier this month when the Illinois House passed statewide smoking ban legislation.

"I'm sure there are some in the community that liked the move made by the Champaign council," Stockton said. "But what's the point with a statewide ban coming?"

He added that with the temporary patio exemption there are still a few taverns and restaurants in the city that allow smoking.

Still, the change in Champaign pleased some.

"I'm excited it's going to be repealed," said Evgenii Sverdlov of Urbana as he smoked a cigarette outside a Champaign bar. "We have self-determination in this country. (The ban) is ridiculous."

But his excitement - and the repeal - are expected to be short-lived.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he "enthusiastically" supports the statewide smoking ban in bars, restaurants and other public workplaces.

If he signs the measure into law, the restrictions would take effect Jan. 1 and make Illinois the 19th state to impose such a ban.

Dr. Donald Greeley, head of the pulmonary medicine department at Carle Clinic, said Champaign's repeal sends the wrong message to the public.

"The mayor and the city council should be out there leading the charge to convince young people not to smoke and convincing older smokers to quit," he said.