Local groups push for gambling bill referendum

Friday, May 30, 1997 | 11:44 a.m.

The state Legislature passed the bill aimed at legalizing Indian gaming earlier this year, and Gov. Gary Johnson signed it in March. The law is to go into effect June 20.

The anti-gambling group has been fighting the measure since the end of April.

The coalition mailed more than 30,000 petition sheets in the first two waves to businesses, churches and homes in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas, but petition drive organizer Dr. Guy Clark said Friday it's hard to estimate how many will be returned.

"We've gotten around 1,000 signatures that I know of," he said.

Many of those signatures came out of the special election in the state's 3rd Congressional District on May 13. Clark said coalition members hit about 80 polling places asking for signatures.

Some of the people who signed petitions admitted being gambling supporters, he said. Clark said they signed because they wanted to vote for the measure in next year's general election.

The anti-gambling groups need about 146,000 signatures by June 20 to put the law on hold until the general election, he said.

"I think it's a bit of a long shot," Clark acknowledged.

The group also has the option of gathering 60,000 signatures - about 10 percent of the state's 1996 general election turnout. That would not prevent the law from going into effect, but would allow the voters to decide on it in the 1998 general election. The deadline for collecting the 60,000 names is August 1998.

"I think there's a very, very good chance to get the 60,000 to put (the bill) on the ballot," Clark said.

The coalition plans to mail out 35,000 petitions this weekend.

Clark said the anti-gambling groups are sending out so many petition sheets because they originally believed the deadline was July 1. After talking to their lawyers, he said, they found out the signatures were needed two weeks earlier.

The coalition has had opposition from the community and legislators.

But, Clark said, "What can they do, say the people don't get a voice in this?"

He said he also expects pro-gambling groups to attack the referendum with the legal books if the effort to gather signatures is successful.

The coalition is made up of local action groups and businesses and several legislators and community members.