Youngstown’s mayor to campaign against casino ballot issue

COLUMBUS — Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams will be one of several co-chairmen to take across the state the message of a group opposed to a constitutional amendment that would allow casinos at specific sites in four Ohio cities.

Backers of the ballot issue, meanwhile, unveiled a new Web site, aimed at combating what they call false and misleading information about their casino plan.

The two sides are duking it out in a campaign that likely will cost tens of millions of dollars as they try to persuade voters.

TruthPAC, a coalition of groups opposed to the ballot issue, appointed eight co-chairmen today for its statewide campaign against the casino plan. If voters approve the plan, casinos would be placed in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.

The group includes individuals who oppose gambling and is receiving contributions from the owners of the Mountaineer casino in West Virginia.

Community and elected leaders involved in the campaign include Williams; state Rep. Louis Blessing, a Republican from the Cincinnati area; state Sen. Teresa Fedor, a Democrat from Toledo; the Rev. E.T. Caviness, from the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland; and Parma Mayor Dean DePiero.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com