GAMBLING Cleveland mayor begins casino push

Backers hope to get the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The mayor and other casino gambling backers have begun a petition drive to force a statewide referendum allowing cities to decide whether to allow casinos.
Mayor Jane Campbell, a Democrat seeking a second four-year term this year, and political adviser Jerry Austin announced Wednesday that the political action group Ohioans for Local Option would try to get 322,899 valid signatures of registered voters by Aug. 10 to place a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the Nov. 8 ballot.
American Indian tribes, racetrack owners, lawmakers and others who want to attract casinos also are working on plans to put the issue on the ballot, either by legislation or initiative.
Gov. Bob Taft opposes casino gambling, and Ohio voters have twice rejected casino gambling issues since 1990.
The amendment backed by Campbell would allow home-rule cites that are county seats, or that have at least 50,000 residents, to vote on whether they want casinos.
Entertainment destination
Counties with an entertainment attraction that draws more than 1 million tourists a year -- including Cedar Point in Sandusky in Erie County and Paramount's Kings Island in Warren County north of Cincinnati -- would also be allowed a casino vote.
Campbell has said a casino would generate jobs and strengthen Cleveland as an entertainment destination.
Signatures must include at least 5 percent of voters in half of Ohio's 88 counties.
The campaign needs about $1 million to hire a signature-gathering firm and to coordinate a statewide network of volunteer petitioners, Austin said. If the issue qualifies for the ballot, Austin said he expects to spend at least $7 million to promote the issue.