Hagan makes bid to get casino in Valley

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Rep. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown. (AP Photo/Larry Phillips)

By Marc Kovac

Anthony’s On the River suggested by lawmaker as a possible casino site.

COLUMBUS — Ohio voters would decide whether to amend the state constitution to expand the state’s casino sites to include Youngstown, under a proposal being floated by one lawmaker.

State Rep. Bob Hagan, D-Youngstown, said he has contacted House leadership about adding the option to another possible ballot issue aimed at changing the location of the Columbus casino approved by voters in November.

“If it’s going to go to the ballot, I’d like to have Youngstown on it,” Hagan said Tuesday. “I think we should be given an opportunity again to vote. We are very supportive of it in the Youngstown area. ... Hopefully, it will create the jobs and the opportunities to help us grow.”

The Republican leader of the Ohio Senate, however, is not enthusiastic about the proposal’s chances.

“From serving both in the House and in the Senate with Rep. Hagan, he has continuously some very interesting ideas,” said Senate President Bill Harris from Ashland. “Sometimes they’re doable; sometimes they’re not. I suspect this is one of them that’s not.”

In November, voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing casinos at specific sites in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Since then, Columbus officials have been in discussions with casino representatives with hopes of relocating the site in that city.

To do that, the issue would have to be put to voters statewide again. And lawmakers will have to act within the next three weeks to place the issue before voters during the May primary.

As part of the Columbus move, Hagan is hoping to include language allowing a casino site in Youngstown.

He and other voters in his home city did not support the November casino issue because Youngstown was not among the chosen sites. Though the issue passed statewide, it fell short in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

But Hagan said he thinks residents would support a Youngstown casino.

“A lot of the people in the Youngstown area would like to have a casino in the downtown area,” he said. “I think it would help. I don’t want [Youngstown] to be flooded with casinos, but I think it would help the area and provide some jobs.”

Hagan said he has contacted Democratic House Speaker Armond Budish and caucus policy officials to offer the suggestions. He is awaiting their response.

“I’m very interested in seeing what they have to say, seeing if they’re going to give us an opportunity to participate,” he said. “And hopefully we’ll have a vote coming very shortly.”

Asked about potential casino sites, Hagan offered Anthony’s On the River.

“Any development that you’ve seen that are successful are either near or very close [to] water,” he said. “This is on the river. If we can do something like that, I think it’s advantageous for Youngstown.”