Casino fight deja vu for Ohio senator

John McCarthy

Wednesday, March 23, 2005 | 11:15 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Anti-gambling forces, led by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and other statewide officeholders, are preparing to fight another bid to get casinos in Ohio, where voters twice have rejected the idea in the last 15 years.

Voinovich, governor from 1991-99, joined Attorney General Jim Petro and Cleveland-area businessman David Zanotti at a downtown news conference Tuesday, two days before backers of expanded gambling have scheduled a private meeting to discuss their options.

That meeting will include lawmakers, racetrack owners, representatives of Indian tribes and officials of cities where casinos would be welcomed. Voinovich said it's the same groups -- developers and casino owners -- that pushed unsuccessful ballot issues in 1990 and 1996.

"This time, they have some support from some unlikely allies. Well-meaning groups concerned about the economy of the state and their respective communities have joined them," Voinovich said. "These people, in particular, need to know the truth about casino gambling."

Casinos lead to the destruction of families and don't fix the urban ills their backers claim they will, Voinovich said. People wanting casinos in at least four Ohio cities have been misled by casino developers, Indian tribes and other interest groups, he said.

"While it is true that there would be new jobs for blackjack dealers, pit bosses, cocktail waitresses and other support staff, it is also true that existing hotels, restaurants, entertainment businesses and retail would suffer decreasing sales and decreasing employment," Voinovich said.

Zanotti said the casinos would produce only a fraction of the revenue promised for Ohio and the cities that host them.

Terry Casey, a consultant for the Eastern Shawnee tribe, said while slots-only gambling venues such as those proposed for racetracks last year would not have helped local economies, full-service casinos would.

His group envisions "destination casino resorts" in at least four Ohio cities: Botkins, Lorain, Lordstown and Monroe.

"It won't solve all of Ohio's problems, but it's a key way to bring some economic development," Casey said. "If you design it right, you're going to get more spinoff (businesses)."

Petro on Monday rejected the proposed summary of a constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling in Ohio, saying the language was "not a fair and truthful statement of the measure" to be submitted to voters for their signatures.

The petition was filed on behalf of Cleveland's Democratic Mayor Jane Campbell, who wants a casino built in her city to boost the city's sagging economy. She has been invited to the Thursday meeting.

The petition, filed by longtime Democratic political consultant Gerry Austin, proposed two amendments.

The first would allow municipalities with at least 50,000 residents or counties that draw more than 1 million tourists annually to approve a local casino.

The second amendment would allow the governing authority of any local jurisdiction where a horse track is located to approve the addition of electronic slot machines.