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Casino campaign lacks signatures

Monday, July 11, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

CLEVELAND -- A drive to let Ohioans vote on casinos in November has come up short of the ballot.

Mayor Jane Campbell began a push last May to get a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the Nov. 8 ballot. She and gambling supporters needed the signatures of 322,899 registered voters by Aug. 10.

Her political adviser said Friday that only 116,000 signatures had been collected, not enough to ensure the deadline could be met. Campbell said supporters will instead try to get the measure on the ballot in November 2006.

"I'm fine with that," she said. "We've got 100,000 signatures that will be good for next year.

"I put this forward. I'm still for it. I'm going to keep working at it."

Adviser Gerald Austin said the campaign needed more time and money to hire a company that would gather the necessary number of signatures.

Gov. Bob Taft opposes casino gambling. Ohioans have twice rejected casino gambling issues since 1990.

Campbell's proposal would allow cities that are county seats, or that have at least 50,000 residents, to vote on whether they want casinos.

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