Looks like Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell is looking towards gambling as a way to save her floundering career.
Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and fellow casino supporters kicked off a statewide scramble for signatures this week, aimed at a November referendum allowing big cities to vote on casinos.Campbell and political adviser Jerry Austin announced Wednesday the christening of Ohioans for Local Option, a political action committee that hopes to gather 322,899 valid signatures by Aug. 10, to place a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the fall ballot.
The amendment would allow home-rule cities that are county seats, or that have at least 50,000 residents, to vote on whether they want casinos. Counties with an entertainment attraction that draws more than 1 million tourists a year - Cedar Point in Erie County and Paramount's Kings Island in Warren County - would also be allowed a casino vote. Campbell stressed that casinos are not a cure-all for America's poorest big city, but would generate jobs and strengthen downtown's package of entertainment venues.
Although I'm not holding my breath...
The campaign admits it will have a tough time gathering signatures by the August deadline. If signatures fall short, Ohioans for Local Option will shoot for the November 2006 ballot, Austin said.
Nonetheless...
If the issue qualifies for the ballot, Austin said he expects to spend at least $7 million on a campaign leading to a November vote.The campaign will face fierce opposition, led by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Gov. Bob Taft and other Republicans in statewide office opposed to expanded gambling.
Ok, I get Voinovich. Kudos to him (sort of) for the whole Bolton standoff thing. He's an opponenet on this issue I can deal with. But Taft? After all, it's been under his watch that the rare coin fiasco has unfurled.
So he's averse to gambling in Ohio? give me a break. During his term, Ohio has bled more people, jobs, and hope than any other. Taxes are higher and the cost of college tuition has skyrocketed.
So I ask, what is the big deal? If the southern half of the state wants to remain a religious holy land, then fine. But don't suck us in to your man-made debacle. Don't blame me, I voted for Hagan.