Nov-04-2009Struggling Ohio Votes to Open Doors to Casinos
(topic overview)
CONTENTS:- Issue 3, the constitutional amendment for casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, coasted to victory Tuesday night with 53 percent of the vote, thanks in large part to voters in Northeast and Southwest Ohio. (More...)
- The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, longtime opponents of casinos, reversed course and not only endorsed Issue 3 but became one of the casino proposal's most ardent and unapologetic supporters. (More...)
- Labor unions that have opposed gambling issues in the past were convinced by the issue's key backer, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, that the promise of jobs were legitimate and offered key grassroots support. (More...)
- Rollins, Graham and Carroll support expanded gambling. (More...)
- CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outraged by public corruption and economic woes, Cuyahoga County voted Tuesday to dramatically restructure a government that dates back 200 years. (More...)
- With 1.3 million people, Cleveland would not only reclaim the largest city spot over Columbus for Ohio, we would move up to No. 8 overall in the U.S., between San Antonio and San Diego. (More...)
- "The livestock thing, I did just a little bit of research and I guess other states have had a little bit of trouble of having other people come in to take care of that stuff. (More...)
- "The public was absolutely disgusted and sickened by what it saw in public corruption," said County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, one of the leaders of the Issue 5 campaign. (More...)
- A permanent 33% tax on gross casino revenues will also be imposed. (More...)
- The Pennsylvania based gaming company, will develop two of the four proposed casinos. (More...)
- With 91 percent of precincts reporting, the question passed 53 percent to 47 percent in Ohio Tuesday. (More...)
- About Ohio did the right thing. (More...)
- Fairview Park had the greatest number of issues at stake, with a dozen measures, most of them fine-tuning city government. (More...)
SOURCESFIND OUT MORE ON THIS SUBJECTIssue 3, the constitutional amendment for casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, coasted to victory Tuesday night with 53 percent of the vote, thanks in large part to voters in Northeast and Southwest Ohio. With Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert pledging that construction of the $600 million Cleveland casino would begin no later than the second half of next year, city supporters are looking forward to thousands of new jobs and more tourism from this new form of entertainment.
[1] COLUMBUS, Ohio — The best way to solve Ohio's 10 percent unemployment rate was at the heart of Tuesday's election as voters decided whether to reverse their two-decade old opposition to gambling and support casinos and potential new jobs. A proposed constitutional amendment to allow casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo was the top issue this campaign season.
[2] COLUMBUS, Ohio — Arguments for and against casinos bombarded Ohioans via the airwaves, phone lines and news media for weeks. The state's first citizen, and the bearer of its most powerful bully pulpit, was largely out of sight and out of earshot. Strickland's face appeared on a mailer against the proposal to allow casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, but he was far from loud in his opposition. He spoke at a rally and voiced a robo-call urging Ohioans to vote at the polls Tuesday for Issue 2, which would establish a board to oversee the care of livestock. "I think he's been very quiet throughout the campaign other than he did make the statement that he's opposed to it," said Tom Smith, public policy director for the Ohio Council of Churches, which asked for the governor's help in opposing the casinos. "He just never really followed up much on it." The governor was in a tight political spot after a slew of labor organizations, whose support Democrats need to get elected, endorsed the casino plan because of its promise of jobs. If Strickland were to aggressively oppose an issue they felt was important, it could hurt him both in terms of votes and campaign contributions when he runs for re-election in 2010. Strickland also spent a considerable amount of effort talking about gambling this year, switching his long-held anti-gambling stance to plug a budget hole by supporting slots at horse racing tracks — only to see the Ohio Supreme Court throw a wrench into those plans.
[3] More was spent in Ohio on the gambling proposal than during 2008's hotly contested presidential contest. It also was the fifth gambling proposal Ohio voters have seen in 20 years. They roundly rejected the others. The ballot asked voters to amend the Ohio Constitution on such casino issues as the parcels on which casinos could be built; how to distribute a 33percent casino tax to counties, cities, schools and gambling regulation and addiction services; and the combined $300million in ongoing state license fees and minimum initial investments required for each facility. Elizabeth Groen, 56, voting in the Cincinnati suburb of Anderson Township, said she supported casinos. 'They are going everywhere else,' Groen said. At a Columbus polling location blocks away from a proposed casino site, Chris Protopapas said he voted against the amendment on moral grounds.
[4] Farm interests seeking to avoid legislation sought by animal rights activists proposed the board. Several big-city mayor's seats are up for election as well, including those in Cincinnati and Cleveland. The casino campaign has been particularly nasty, fueled by tens of millions in spending by gambling rivals Penn National Gaming and MTR Gaming Inc. and their friends. The ballot issue asks voters to amend the Ohio Constitution on such casino issues as the parcels on which casinos could be built; how to distribute a 33 percent casino tax to counties, cities, schools and gambling regulation and addiction services; and the combined $300 million in ongoing state license fees and minimum initial investments required for each facility.
[2] Gilbert, who co-owns the Cleveland Cavaliers pro basketball franchise, partnered with Penn National Gaming, another firm that stands to win on Issue 3's passage. Proponents of the ballot measure estimated the four new facilities would draw more than $1 billion annually from out-of-state casinos, most notably those in Michigan. Television and radio commercials dramatizing the effect of Ohio gamblers taking business to Michigan casinos formed a cornerstone of their campaign rhetoric. Last year, Detroit's three casinos took in $1.36 billion in revenues, with the state raking in $121.04 million in gaming taxes and Detroit getting $151.36 million. Those numbers are likely headed south this year because of the recession, making 2009 the first year since Detroit's gaming industry opened for business in 1999 that there would be a year-over-year decrease in casino revenues.
[5] If the 53-47 percent lead holds for Issue 3, then Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Penn National Gaming will have pulled off what other groups had failed to accomplish four times since 1990. Bob Tenenbaum, an Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan spokesman supporting the casinos, said voters understood this was a serious proposal to create jobs and spur economic development in the state.
[6] Passage of Issue 3 marked a significant victory for Penn National Gaming Inc. and Gilbert, who spent nearly $35 million promoting four big-city casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo as the Ohio Jobs & Growth Plan.
[7] The issue was a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow four $250 million casinos -- one each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo -- and distributed taxes from the casinos to all Ohio counties. "I voted yes, because I believe while some people have moral issues with gambling I think overall it's going to do us well.
[8] Issue 1 will allow the state to sell $200 million in bonds to provide cash bonuses for Ohio veterans who served in the Persian Gulf conflicts and recent actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of the world. Harry Burnell stopped by the Zanesville Civic League Community Center, a 4th Ward polling location on Jackson Street, to see his wife, Lori, who was working the polls Tuesday. He said he would vote later in the day and was particularly in favor of Issue 2, since he felt food safety was an important issue. He also felt the advertising campaigns for and against Issue 3 were "over done," but that the messages would not influence his vote. "I voted for the casinos because I believe it could create more jobs in Ohio and bring more people to the state instead of them going out of state all the time," Brandon Myers, 28, of New Lexington. "It's entertaining and a good time.
[9] According to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State'''s office, the gambling issue was actually winning, with 53.08 percent of the votes, to 46.92 percent that were opposed. That was with 92 percent of the statewide voted counted. Supporters of the casinos spent over $35 million on their campaign, whereas the people that were opposed to the issue, spent over $5 million to fight it.
[10] With 92 percent of precincts reporting, 53 percent of people voted for the issue and 47 percent voted against it. Proponents promised 34,000 new jobs will be created if Ohio gets casinos in its four biggest cities. They further said the casinos would generate $11 billion in five years and would stop Ohio gamblers from going out-of-state to play.
[11] Yvette Harris, 48, who voted at East Toledo's Birmingham Library, started out thinking a casino would contribute to gambling addiction. Laid off for the last year and a half from a job as a health-care worker, she said the need for jobs overrode those concerns. "People need to be adults and take care of themselves," she said, adding, "Yes, I will apply" for the jobs. The backers of Issue 3 have estimated that their four projects would create 19,000 temporary construction jobs and 15,000 permanent casino jobs, of which, they've pledged, 90 percent would go to Ohioans.
[12] Steve Lowe and Linda Beach voted yes for Issues 1 and 2 and no for Issue 3. "I think they're trying to run the farmers out of Ohio, if they had control of it," Lowe said of Issue 2. He wasn't fond of Issue 3 either. "With gambling, I think a lot of people will let their kids go hungry, they'll spend all their money at the casino," he said. Even with contentious ballot language such as Issue 3, which would legalize and regulate casinos in four Ohio cities, Election Day fell into its usual routine.
[9] Voters came to a landmark decision by passing Issue 3, meaning four casino resorts will be built in the state. This was the fifth time that the casino gambling issue has appeared on the ballot in Ohio, but it is the first time that voters have said yes to casinos. It follows a growing trend in the U.S. for casino expansion. Many states have expanded their casino gambling laws in the past several years.
[13] Gilbert is a main investor in the casino plan. Passage of Issue 3 marked a significant victory for Gilbert and Penn National Gaming Inc., who spent nearly $35 million to persuade one of America's most stubborn anti-gambling states to change its mind. It marked the fifth time in 20 years a gambling expansion was proposed in the state, with all four previous attempts rejected.
[14] With Issue 3 written into Ohio's Constitution, the two entities now have a monopoly on casino gambling in Ohio. It will cost them a $50 million license fee per casino location, a fraction of what casino licenses are going for in other states. They can get started as soon as the Ohio legislature passes necessary enabling language. They have six months to do it.
[15] The promise of jobs and tourism for a city reeling from a devastating economy sold Mayor Frank Jackson, City Council and business leaders who got behind the casino plan. Jackson, who celebrated both his re-election and Issue 3's passage Tuesday night, said, "This is not a panacea, but it's a significant tool for the city of Cleveland. It's one more tool we can use to further the goals and vision of Cleveland." The casinos won't alter Ohio's landscape to resemble anything close to Las Vegas, but they represent a turning point in the history of Ohio, which until this election had stood alone in repeatedly rejecting the expansion of gambling. The Buckeye State will now join its neighbors in Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia and Pennsylvania with gambling meccas featuring table games, slot machines and live entertainment.
[15] Tenenbaum declined to comment on the possibility of another ballot try that could put the state in charge of bringing casinos to Ohio and generate more revenue for state coffers. "It would depend entirely on what the proposal was," he said. Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, who opposed Issue 3, said lawmakers should move quickly to put a new amendment on the ballot to raise the tax rate, put the casino licenses up to bid and let cities regulate their locations and operations. "If this passes, my hope is that the legislature will step in," Coleman said last night. It would take a three-fifths majority of the legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the May ballot.
[16] Construction could begin by late 2010, and the new facilities would open in 2012. It's now up to Ohio's political leaders to decide whether to mount a legal challenge or launch an effort to pass another constitutional amendment next year to replace parts of the measure approved yesterday. Gov. Ted Strickland, who opposed Issue 3, was noncommittal on the latter possibility. "While I am personally disappointed, I understand why Ohioans, who are struggling under the weight of this global recession, were willing to give this proposal a chance," Strickland said in a statement. "The voters have spoken, and state leaders and legislators must now implement the constitutional amendment while making sure it benefits the people of this state and puts more Ohioans to work."
[16] The people of Ohio will soon be able to visit Las Vegas-style casinos in their very own state, after the 2009 results show a lot support Issue 3. That is despite rejection of the statewide issue in the Trumbull, Columbiana and Mahoning counties. Even though he is obviously disappointed with the statewide results, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, said that he was proud of the unity shown by all the voters that were against the issue in the Mahoning Valley.
[10] Though disappointed with the statewide results, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, a strong and vocal opponent of the issue, said he'''s proud of the unity shown by voters in the Mahoning Valley against the issue. '''I'''m happy the Valley residents spoke loud and clear and stood arm-in-arm and voted as a region against this,''' said Betras, who opposed the issue because it didn'''t include a casino for this area. '''The people of Ohio spoke and Issue 3, despite its many flaws, was passed,''' he added.
[17] Voters passed Issue 6, a reform measure for Cuyahoga County government, and Issue 3, which will allow casino gambling in Ohio.
[1] After four previous failed attempts to legalize casino gambling in Ohio, backers of state issue 3 finally won voters over with their proposal to a casino in each of four Ohio cities.
[18] The latest proposal won support in three out of the four counties where the casinos are to be built. In three out of the four previous gambling votes in Ohio since 1990, voters in the home counties gave their support. The local support in those elections was not enough as each issue was defeated statewide. This time, however, support for gambling extended to several counties. Listed at the bottom of this page is a county-by-county vote for each gambling issue in Ohio.
[19] With 74 percent of the unofficial vote counted, nearly 53 percent of voters were backing Issue 3 and its four casinos in Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Toledo's casino, its location etched into the Ohio Constitution, would be on a 44-acre, reclaimed industrial site on the south bank of the Maumee River abutting Rossford and I-75.
[20] More than two-thirds of absentee voters said yes to Issue 3, the Ohio constitutional amendment that would allow one casino each in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo.
[1] COLUMBUS -- Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo are on track to have Las Vegas-style casinos after Ohio voters passed Issue 3, according to statewide returns.
[21] Secretary of state numbers show that roughly 3.2 million voters turned out for Tuesday's election following a statewide campaign dominated by a successful proposal to allow casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Voters this year also considered two other statewide issues, approving the creation of a board to oversee livestock care and the funding of bonuses for modern-day veterans.
[22] The issue amends the state Constitution by authorizing casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo, sets a 33 percent tax rate and outlines how the money will be distributed.
[14] The vote marks a significant win for casino operators like Penn National Gaming ( PENN Quote ), as well as gambling suppliers like Bally Technologies ( BYI Quote ), International Game Technology ( IGT Quote ) and WMS Industries ( WMS Quote ). The referendum will allow Ohio to amend its constitution to allow casinos in its four largest cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
[23] Tuesday's vote is a significant victory for Penn National Gaming Inc. and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. They spent nearly $35 million to promote four casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
[24] Penn and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had spent millions trying to convince Ohio residents to vote in favor of establishing casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
[25] On behalf of mental health, addictions, and consumer credit counselors, police officers, prison guards, suicide hotline and domestic violence shelter workers, emergency room workers, I say "Thank You!" to the voters of Ohio who have given us all "job security" until the Second Coming by foolishly approving casinos. Well, at least they so far will be limited to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. That will allow sane and sober people with families to protect some time to sell their homes and move to counties which will not have this scourge in their midst.
[26] COLUMBUS, Ohio ' Facing a 10 percent state unemployment rate, Ohio voters Tuesday reversed their two-decades-old opposition to gambling by passing a referendum on casinos that promised thousands of new jobs.
[4] Gaming experts said Ohio casinos would likely cut into Southeastern Indiana's gambling market considerably while having a more targeted impact on Kentucky's horse track gambling. One study estimated that Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Ind., Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Ind., and Belterra Casino near Vevay, Ind., would lose 38 percent of their traffic and $260million in wagering revenue with the opening of casinos in Cincinnati and Columbus. Those losses ' combined with a smaller hit to the new Hoosier Park casino at the racetrack in Anderson, Ind
[4] Supporters of the gambling issue say the casinos would provide about $650 million annually in gross revenue taxes for the state, including $27 million a year for Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Opponents dispute those numbers.
[17] The constitutional amendment requires the sharing of revenue, estimated at $500 million a year, from the casinos with all 88 counties in Ohio for schools and local governments.
[27] "We'll probably have to put another constitutional amendment on in May to correct some things to make it more fair for the people of Ohio," said state Rep. Louis Blessing, a Cincinnati Republican and co-chair of TruthPAC. Blessing said his amendment would raise the tax rate on casino revenues, make clear that cash wagering will be taxed, bid out the casino licenses and mandate background checks on potential casino owners.
[15] Sandy Theis, spokeswoman for the opposition group TruthPAC, said the heavy pro-casino turnout in urban counties helped the issue. Many voters who cast "yes" ballots noted that thousands of Ohioans gamble in other states without benefiting their home state. The casinos would jump-start economic development in the state's largest cities and retain tax money in Ohio, they said. "I don't go to casinos, but lots of people go elsewhere to gamble, so they might as well keep the money here," said Regina Lee, 35, of Westerville.
[16] Voters amended the state constitution to set up four casinos in Ohio --including one in Cleveland. They created a state livestock board. They decided to completely overhaul Cuyahoga County government, rather than study whether it should be changed, made it harder to recall Akron's mayor and told the Stark County commissioner to look somewhere other than the sales tax to find more money.
[28] COLUMBUS -- Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said he would start first thing Wednesday making plans for the four casinos that Ohio voters wrote into the state Constitution.
[14] Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who would operate two of the four Ohio casinos, smiles at a Cleveland rally after learning voters approved Issue 3.
[16] " means that a lot of voters have said in the past that they wanted to see expanded gaming in Ohio,'' said Bob Ten- enbaum, spokesman for Penn National Gaming and Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert, the financial forces behind Issue 3. "They recognize the economic situation that we're in and believe this would be a great way to generate jobs and economic growth,'' he said.
[12] Ohio voting results 2009 and Issue 2 Ohio results are among the many voting results that so many people are concerned about today. Ohio voting results 2009 indicate that soon Ohio will be able to have Vegas style casinos in their very own state due to the passage of Issue 3 during the 2009 November elections.'' Those who supported Issue 3 in the Ohio 2009 elections estimate that casinos will bring 34,000 jobs to the state.
[29] Some who voted against Issue 3 cited the potential for crime and other social problems as well as exaggerated promises of jobs from casino proponents. John Goettler, 45, an Upper Arlington consultant for nonprofit organizations, said he is opposed to expanded gambling in Ohio. He is worried the casinos could bring more crime and other problems and thinks the pro-casino television ads promising thousands of jobs contained "blatant lies." "As bad as the economy is. legalizing casino gambling is not the answer," he said.
[16] 'I think public opinion has shifted in Ohio like it has in Kentucky,' Elliston said. He said people are tired of seeing their gambling dollars going to roads and schools in Indiana and West Virginia, and the casinos promise jobs that few other private firms can match in the current economy.
[4] Everything around the areas where the casinos lye are dilapidated and struggling, and people are confused by the flashing lights and glamour of it all but it really depresses the area surrounding it. This is before my time but remember how the Ohio Lottery was supposed to be our savior? NOTit is a money maker but has it done anything for Cleveland Schools, our economyANYTHING? They promise no long term jobs, diversity in high level positions, they will hire people who don'''t live in the state. They never ever ever do what they promise. This is Big Biz Baby and it aint coming to help the folks who live here.
[10] The one thing that people cannot deny is that this issue will create many jobs at a time when unemployment is up. People who wish to gamble will find a way somehow (i.e. river boats) this money Ohioans are spending is leaving Ohio, at least with casinos in Ohio the money and taxes will be going to Ohio.
[30] Surrounding states already have casinos so we don't stand to gain many out-of-staters coming to Ohio spending THEIR money. Out-of-state Casinos funded the campaign because they get OUR money. The 34K new jobs was a sham. only a small portion of those jobs are permanent, most are near minimum wage, and many end up putting local businesses out of business.
[21] You just gave 2 groups exclusive rights to casino's in our state at a steep discount. It's like you opening a business and paying half to start it, while having no competition. For Penn and Gilbert they literally just struck gold.for Ohio some jobs, and some money, but a bad deal.
[26] Lets see, how was it worded on my ballot. We the people of the state of Ohio appoint Dan Gilbert and Penn National Gaming of Pennsylvania as the only people who can make money on gambling in Ohio. as long as they pay taxes.
[15] In politics, overreaching carries great risk ''' largely because voters see it as a sign of desperation. Last year, Republicans overreached in their attacks on then U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, and he is president of the United States today. Leading up to Tuesday'''s general election, opponents of State Issue 3 overreached in their attacks on Dan Gilbert, and today Ohio is poised to get casino-style gambling.
[27] Issue 3 gives a virtual monopoly to Dan Gilbert while the state collects the smallest amount of tax on gambling than any state that touches Ohio and has gambling.
[1] Issue 3, an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to allow four casinos in the state, was passed.
[1] Jumping out to a clear lead, State Issue 3 benefited early from large blocks of votes from the urban counties, particularly Cleveland and Cincinnati. As the night continued, however, and rural counties began reporting results, the wide margin of victory narrowed enough to keep both sides watching intently as votes continued to be counted. At the same time the Issue 3 backers and opponents were on alert, Ohioans were giving their assent to selling bonds to pay veterans a bonus (Issue 1) and amending the Ohio Constitution to create a 13-member agricultural oversight panel to craft rules for the treatment of farm animals (Issue 2).
[6] Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, a principle backer of Issue 3, was flanked by supporters and other casino investors in celebrating a thumbs up from voters to build casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati.
[18] Issue 3, the amendment that would allow one casino in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo, faced substantial moral opposition. The key to its success this year could have been based on employment promises.
[31] The constitutional amendment to allow casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo was the state's top issue and most divisive election day topic, drawing keen attention as well in Kentucky and Indiana.
[4] COLUMBUS: Voters approved three statewide issues Tuesday, including a controversial proposal to build four casinos in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati.
[26] The measure benefited from a strong appeal by unions and urban politicians to get voters in the four casino cities - Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo - to the polls.
[16] The voters responded by saying '''Yes''' to amending the state constitution to permit Las Vegas-style casinos to be built in the cities of Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
[27] Valley political leaders and clergy campaigned strongly against the issue to build gambling casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
[17] Issue 3 allows for one casino each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
[11] Two of three statewide issues passed easily Tuesday, with the third to allow casinos in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati well ahead in the polls.
[30] According to a report by courier-journal.com, the University of Cincinnati jobs study has predicted 39,251 jobs and $4 billion in overall economic impact from the four casino sites (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo).
[32] Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo will be the four Ohio cities where casinos will be built.
[33] The plan will include four casinos, or one each, in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, said he "detests gaming as a source of revenue," but it's the only option besides raising taxes. "It's one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in my public service career," Carroll said.
[7] The opponents, led by TruthPac, which was financed by the Jacobs family of Cleveland, millionaire developers who also own Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Presque Isle Downs and Casino and Scioto Downs horse-racing track outside Columbus, had succeeded in raising doubts about the jobs and revenue estimates. That, along with the charge that Ohio'''s constitution was being amended to benefit only a handful of rich people, struck a chord.
[27] Whether or not it increases crime or tax revenue is a lot less important than the fact that Ohioans will have the freedom to "choose" an Ohio gambling option. The whole concept behind America's constitution was to protect its citizens' inherent rights (commerce, religion, speech, etc.). Personally, I'm not thrilled about the fact that this ballot legalizes 4 monopolies, but I am excited about new jobs and increased revenues for cities/schools/police/new gambling commission. While this is only my personal feeling, I do think this is a step in the right direction.
[30] Ohio voters appeared to pass the referendum in part because it is expected to bring jobs and $650 million in annual tax revenue to the state, mostly for local governments.
[25] With statewide unemployment at about 10 percent, voters said yes to the promise of 34,000 new jobs, $1 billion in capital investment, and $651 million a year in tax revenues for local governments and school districts.
[21] Taken from an article by NBC 4, "Drum points out that Issue 3 supporters project that it would create tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for city and county governments each year, including $16 million annually to Franklin County, and $24 million each year to Columbus.
[10] The amendment calls for the casinos to pay 33 percent of revenue in tax rates and a $50 million license fee for each site. Penn has proposed that they would invest $600 million to become licensed and build the facilities in Toledo and the Columbus''' Arena District.
[34] The outcome marks a significant victory for Penn National Gaming ( PENN : 28.15 +7.44% ), who teamed up with Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to spend nearly $35 million to peruse voters to legalize casinos within the state.
[34] The county ran out of ballots around 5 p.m. and had to turn away some voters. Poll workers contacted them and asked them to return after printing more ballots. The casino fight attracted more than $40.6 million in spending this year -- more than the $40.1 million presidential rivals Barack Obama and John McCain spent trying to win the pivotal swing state in 2008.
[14] Voters in three counties now in line to get casinos - Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Lucas- provided overwhelming support for Issue 3 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, fueling passage of the casino plan. Voters in those counties approved the Issue 64-36 percent, according to final, unofficial returns from Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
[35] During the campaign, Atty. David Betras, chairman of the county Democratic Party, became one of the most vocal opponents of Issue 3 because this region was not chosen for a casino. He argued that without the solid support of the voters in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, the issue would have a difficult time passing statewide.
[27] Some of the strongest early support was showing up in numbers from Lucas, Cuyahoga, and Hamilton counties where three of the four casinos would be located. Both sides were closely watching Franklin County, where Columbus is the county seat. With 85 percent of its vote counted, Franklin was voting against the issue.
[20] The casino issue, though picking up 53 percent of the vote statewide, passed in only 29 of Ohio's 88 counties.
[19] The Casino issue passed Tuesday in Ohio on the strength of what has been a long-standing voting pattern on gambling issues in the state, generally picking up support where the casinos are to be built.
[19] The Ohio AFL-CIO, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, and the United Food and Commercial Workers are just a few of the labor organizations that lined up behind the casino plan, a marked reversal for labor from past gambling issues.
[3] Ohio voters approved the casino gambling issue, which was, however, defeated in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
[17] Ohio voters hit hard by the economic downturn vote 'yes' to casinos tied to new jobs after a fifth try by gambling supporters in the past two decades.
[14] That's the question Michigan casino executives will soon be asking after Ohio voters cleared the way for four gambling halls to open up in the state's four largest cities.
[5] November 3, fifty-three per cent of voters in Ohio showed support for gaming expansion in the state by giving their approval for the erection of four casinos.
[32] Voters in Ohio yesterday approved casino gambling in four major cities. That has expanded gaming proponents in Kentucky claiming the added competition is just another reason to approve a similar measure in the Commonwealth.
[36] NEW YORK -- Shares of slot machine makers and casino operator Penn National Gaming Inc. climbed Wednesday after Ohio voters approved the addition of four casinos, which will mean more business for the companies.
[25] COLUMBUS, Ohio (
TheStreet ) -- Ohio approved a referendum legalizing four new casinos in the state on Monday.
[23] COLUMBUS, Ohio - Tuesday's election transformed Ohio from an anti-gambling state to one that will welcome four major casinos, including a glitzy new one in the Flats, just across from Quicken Loans Arena.
[15] On the fifth try, voters in Ohio finally agreed to amend the state's constitution and allow casinos to be built in four major cities.
[37] Ohio voters on Tuesday will decide whether the recession is a powerful enough force to bring casino gambling to their state.
[38] People in Ohio are gambling now. They are playing the lottery. They are playing keno. They are playing bingo. They are betting on horses. They are traveling to other states to visit casinos.
[26] I for one am happy this passed. my retired parents like to visit casinos in West Virginia 3 or 4 times a year and now they will be able to play in their state. Their home and car is paid off, all bills paid, and I am happy after all the sacrifices they made to raise my sisters and I, they have something fun to do together that they both enjoy. Hate to sound callous, but if people have a gambling addiction, it's their problem just like any addiction.
[26] I remember a few years back when Detroit, seeing how well the casinos were doing in Windsor, decided to build a casino too, so that they could keep the gambling money in Detroit instead of letting it go to Canada. Anyone think that Detroit's casino has done wonders for that city? People who believe that casinos will bring all sorts of economic benefits and revitalize the state are living in a dream world.
[26] It marked another state moving forward with casinos while Kentucky officials continue to debate the issue. Passage would offer Kentucky gamblers yet another out-of-state place to spend their money. Elliston said Kentucky lawmakers can still act to help Turfway Park and other horse tracks survive the increased competition if they set aside a constitutional amendment proposal and vote early next year to authorize slots at the tracks. 'It's difficult to foresee a future for the horse racing industry in Kentucky beyond a couple years if they fail to give us the ability to compete with other states,' he said.
[4] Turnout for the November elections was light, with an estimated 40% of eligible voters showing up at the polls. That 40%, however, was enough to pass Issue 3, giving casinos life in a state that has previously voted against similar proposals.
[33] There's no reason that shouldn't happen in Ohio," said Hannah Adkins of Conesville. Jeremy Hebron, also of Conesville, said that Issue 3 was the main reason he voted and, while he has voted no on gambling in the state in the past, he voted yes this time. "Morally I'm against gambling, but financially it's something that's going to help Ohio," he said.
[8] The state's most powerful blue-collar labor unions also got behind the plan. Even Gov. Ted Strickland, who opposed Issue 3, might have inadvertently pushed the door open a bit more with his own gambling flirtation -- his recent attempt to add slot machines to Ohio's seven horse racing tracks.
[15] With 92 percent of the statewide vote counted, the gambling issue was winning 53.08 percent to 46.92 percent, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State'''s office.
[17] WHICH IT WILL. areas like Youngstown WILL GET A CASINO! Now that Las Vegas Style Casinos are legal in Ohio, the state MUST allow development of a casino in any Ohio city with as simply as allowance by our state govenor and state legislature and a YES vote by the County and City where the casino developer wants to build one.
[17] In 84 of the state's 88 counties, however, the percentage of yes votes was up over the failed issue in 2008 to build a single casino in Clinton County.
[19] Tuesday's vote may not be the end of the story, however. State Rep. Lou Blessing, a Republican who fought the plan, said he plans to push a ballot issue next May that amends elements of the plan, collects more taxes from the casinos, and put the licenses up for bid.
[14] The issue was the fifth time a casino issue has been placed on the Ohio ballot, with four others having been defeated in previous years.
[39] After 20 years and five times on the ballot, voters gave the go-ahead to allow casinos in Ohio's four largest cities.
[11] Tuesday marked the fifth time in 20 years Ohio voters have taken up the casino issue in one form or another.
[5] Ohio voters had rejected gambling issues four times before, including twice in the past three years.
[16] Issue three won by about six percentage points, a comfortable margin. During the campaign Gilbert made promises of jobs and revenue for Ohio, and last night said he believed voters took him at his word.
[18] Much of the credit for having Issue 3 passed goes to the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee. They ran an almost flawless campaign that gave voters the education necessary to make the important decision.
[13] "Our message from day one has been very simple: jobs and money have been leaving the state. I think people have seen it and they responded," said Issue 3 campaign chairman and former Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken.
[21] People have bought into that," said Tom Smith of the Ohio Council of Churches, which opposed Issue 3. "I think people really believe it's going to create all these new jobs and I think that more than anything is what changed people's minds."
[21] In addition to thousands of new jobs, the article states that the result of the gaming expansion would see $18 million funneled to the Ohio horse racing industry. Bob Elliston, president of Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky, stated in the courier-journal.com article that he wouldn't be surprised if the passage of the referendum occurred. '''I think public opinion has shifted in Ohio like it has in Kentucky,''' he said.
[32] Our great state of Ohio is on the brink of becoming insolvent, the budget is facing a $350 million loss that has to be made up someway. Their has been discussi. All going to proposed Ohio casinos (including Ohioans) will see no return for the money they gambled away. Of those dollars spent, only 33% will return to O.
The Legacy of John Brown is on view at the Akron Art Museum After leaving Akron, Jon Brown brought his family to Lake Placid, NY where after the raid on Harper's Ferry, Browns body was laid to rest.
[28] I'm not against casino's but I am against selling the license for 50 million when surrounding states are getting 450 million. They also get a tax rate around 50. Instead of Ohio getting this billion dollars we gave it to a few men.
[26] A 33 percent tax levied against casino gross receipts, after payouts, would be divided among all counties, all school districts, the eight largest cities, the new gaming regulatory panel, a state racing commission fund, law enforcement training, and gambling addiction programs. Staff writer Tom Troy contributed to this article.
[12] Personally I am opposed to gambling and think it is sinful, addictive and decadent and destroys families. There are those who will travel out of state to gamble and there are those who will continue to go to church and still support their church as always and not sell the farm in order to support their gambling habit. I feel that the Churches in our state are fearful that they will lose revenue if gambling becomes legalized and that I believe is an unfounded fear. My family and the families I know who are churchgoers will not suddenly rush to the local casino with their tithes and offerings and stop supporting their church. That is NOT ABOUT TO HAPPEN. If we are to be competitive as a State we must rethink our opposition to gaming.
[7] Racetrack operators in Kentucky have said over the last few months it'''s impossible to compete with other gaming options in neighboring states like Indiana that allow casinos. They claim their racing product is also affected because states with expanded gambling can infuse their racetrack purses with casino revenue.
[36] When casinos opens in Ohio it'''s a sure bet that they will be operating like amusement parks with no safety belts or cages on their rides? Every thing Ohioans will be addressing from now and even when your casinos open, we'''ve been addressing here in Pennsylvania since our gaming law passed. From location, to ownership, but nobody ever addresses the casinos everyday operations that lets them destroys individuals and families. Think about it, does it really matter where they build them, if it'''s not in your backyard it'''s going to be in someone else'''s. Who cares who owns these joints? They could be owned by the Mafia, Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, Al-Kida or even the Catholic Church, what'''s the difference, it'''s still the same SCAM that is FLEECING and BREEDING Americans into compulsive casino gamblers who will eventually become criminals. Here are a few of the tools that legislators throughout our country have given casino operators to seduce their prey, 24/7 gambling, Free booze, Check cashing, Smoking areas inside, Interest Free Credit and those so-called freebees known as Comps that make many justify their losses.
[26] Come on Ohio think about your neighbors wallet. There's money in there that he doesn't need. Casinos have not torn your family apart if someone has a gambling problem within your family that's a sickness on there behalf, like smoking, drugs, or alcohol or any other addiction or crutch, simply they need help.
[30] Although three groups were on record against the issue, the most active organization was funded by MTR Gaming, which operates casinos in West Virginia and is partly owned by Jeff Jacobs, who was behind recent failed efforts to expand gambling in Ohio.
[6] Faulting the casinos for creating gambling problems and tearing apart families is the same as blaming guns for killing people. It's the people who use the casinos who will be to blame just as it's the people who use the guns to kill are to blame. It's time to welcome Ohio out of the dark ages and keep millions upon millions of dollars in Ohio.
[35] Ohio had legal gambling for years. It was just called a 'fish fry." Hopefully these will be high-class operations and not the ratholes that pass for casinos in other states.
[35] Backers say it could produce 40,000 full-time and part-time jobs; critics, however, are dubious of that position. It's the most divisive election day topic; more was spent in the state on the gambling proposal than during 2008's hotly contested presidential contest. It is the fifth gambling proposal Ohio voters have seen in 20 years. They roundly rejected the others.
[2] COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Unofficial results show that 40.31 percent of Ohio's voters cast ballots for this year's general election, nearly 10 percent higher than 2007 and roughly the same as 2005, when the state had its highest odd-year turnout since 1997.
[22] Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment that will place casinos in some of the state's largest cities on Tuesday.
[39] Unofficial results showed the constitutional amendment, Issue 3, voted in by 53 percent of Ohio Voters on Tuesday.
[34] Ohio voters also passed Issue 1, which will pay bonuses of up to $1,000 to war veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. It was approved by 72 percent of voters, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
[14] Issue 1 will allow the state to sell $200 million in bonds to provide cash bonuses for Ohio veterans who served in the Persian Gulf conflicts and recent actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of the world. Staff writer Kathie Dickerson contributed to this story.
[8] The new Ohio Department of Veteran Services will be allowed to sell up to $200 million in bonds for the newly created compensation bond retirement fund. Eligible recipients include any veteran, and certain survivors, who served at any time during those conflicts regardless of whether their tours of duty included action in-country or support from stateside.
[26] Elizabeth Groen, 56, voting in the Cincinnati suburb of Anderson Township Tuesday morning, supports casinos. "They are going everywhere else," Groen said. "It's time that Ohio gets on board." At a Columbus polling location blocks away from a proposed casino site, Chris Protopapas said he voted against the casino on moral grounds.
[2] COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters hit hard by the economic downturn have approved casinos on the fifth try by gambling supporters in the past two decades.
[24] COLUMBUS - Whether because of Lady Luck, the big bucks spent, or a recession-weary electorate, Ohio voters said yesterday they're ready to roll the dice with Las Vegas-style casino gambling.
[12] Voters approved amending the Ohio Constitution with details on where casinos could be built and how to distribute generated tax revenues to various agencies.
[24] Opponents said what sounds too good to be true, is. They argued that Issue 3 would change the state's constitution and create a monopoly for out-of-state casino developers, if they ever build. Challengers said casino operators would only pay 33 percent in taxes, a sweetheart deal they said simply isn't fair.
[11] Issue 3 supporters relentlessly touted how the issue would bring 34,000 jobs the state if the 4 casinos were to open.
[31] Pro-gambling supporters point to a study that predicts the casinos will bring 40,000 jobs and $4 billion in economic impact to a state with unemployment above 10 percent. It's a shame that desperate times lead to desperate solutions.
[37] The casino operators are required to pay a $50 million fee for state job training.
[30] The amendment states that the casino owners "shall'' invest $250 million in improvements at each of the four sites but sets no deadline.
[12] Four other casino gambling efforts on ballots since 1990 all failed. Supporters of the casinos spent more than $35 million on their campaign.
[17] 'By approving them, it gives tacit approval to the activities, which end up being harmful to society,' said Protopapas, 53, a self-described libertarian. The casino campaign was particularly nasty, fueled by tens of millions in spending by gambling rivals Penn National Gaming and MTR Gaming Inc. and their friends.
[4] Originally from Dayton, I now reside just south of Lucas County (Toledo). I've had the opportunity to work with Penn National Gaming at Toledo Raceway Park, and they are a responsible, viable and well-run company. I find it interesting that the negative campaign was financed by neighboring state's casino industryclaiming that their establishments produced crime, drugs, torn families, drugs and prostitutionnone of which has ever been proven statistically.
[35] Now the jobs may be in jeopardy as Greektown is in bankruptcy protection as of May 2008. This same scene has happened in states all over the country. bankruptcy. Our governor is trying to balance our state budget by bringing in the one thing he vowed he would never do during his campaign for office. casino's and legalized gambling.
[17] Having lived in Indiana most of my life, I can tell you that this state will be happy with the benefits of legal casino gambling. The hyper conservative mindset that says, "this is going to tear apart families, cause gambling problems, etc." is completely overshadowed by the jobs, tax income, entertainment draws, and other benefits of these casinos.
[35] WOW. Very disappointed in Ohio. When these casinos are built by out of state contractors, run by out of state personel, leaving a few janatorial jobs for the rubes of Ohio, I will be here to say "I told you so."
[30] Among the top reasons were the increase in revenue the state would receive and the thousands of jobs that will be created. "This is a good day for the state of Ohio," said resident Mark Brohman, "The people of Ohio have been hit hard by the recession and hopefully this is another step that will help get families back on their feet."
[13] People like you, who would be against the choice that is obviously, the best direction for the state to go, in the name of your religion, confound me. You really think that all the jobs and revenue that this is going to generate are a sin? There is a simple solution that people like you don't seem to be capable of grasping.
[30] Mark my words, 34,000 jobs and $500 million in state tax revenues will never be realized.
[17] Only the smart people voted against Issue 1. The most a veteran can get is $1,000!! Now we have a whole new department we have to pay to make sure they get it. The federal government should be responsible for military members, they employ them! I know it's not PC to come out and say this, but everybody's thinking it: the military is VOLUNTARY. And it's just a job. A really dangerous one, but it's just a job (oh, AND an adventure!). If anything, there should be a subversive movement to discourage military service so young guys won't unnecessarily lose their lives before they've even had a chance to live them. If we REALLY had to defend this country, they'd draft guys for the military. That way we'd all be in it together.
[1] Like the rest of Ohio and the entire country, Cuyahoga County has been slammed by a brutal recession that has wiped out thousands of good jobs and accelerated population loss. Voters understood this is no time for business as usual. A leaner, more efficient government with clear lines of authority won't solve all the county's economic problems, but it should improve this region's ability to compete.
[40] Issue 6 supporters include county prosecutor Bill Mason and Parma Heights Mayor Marty Zanotti. "This is probably the biggest change in Ohio County Government in 175 years. It's not us who are here tonight who are the winners, it's our children and it's the region who have won here today," said Mason.
[41] By overwhelming margins, voters on Tuesday embraced the proposed county charter in Issue 6 and rejected Issue 5 -- a Trojan horse hastily constructed by political insiders to confuse the public and derail change. This means the end, in Cuyahoga County anyway, of a decentralized governing structure geared to agrarian Ohio, one that lacked accountability or oversight and that fostered inefficiency and cronyism. In its place, voters here next year will elect a single executive and an 11-member council to lead the county. This morning, in the aftermath of Issue 5's crushing defeat, the politicians who lined up behind it -- including County Commissioners Peter Lawson Jones and Tim Hagan, Reps.
[40] While passing Issue 6, voters rejected a competing reform proposal, known as Issue 5, which was backed by some of the region's most powerful Democrats. That measure would have delayed any overhaul of county government for at least a year.
[42] CLEVELAND -- Issues that brought many Cuyahoga County voters to the polls were Issues 5 and 6, which both deal with county government reform. Issue 5 would elect a commission to study how to best reform Cuyahoga County government, but voters are saying they don't want that. Instead they are saying yes to Issue 6, which would immediately change the county charter, scrapping the three commissioner system for an elected executive and 11-member county council.
[41] Then there is the federal corruption investigation, which has cast an enormous cloud over everything the county does. For months, voters have been bombarded with stories about bribes and kickbacks, contract-steering, job-selling and obstruction of justice -- with some of the most prominent elected officials in the county at the center of this cesspool. Voters justifiably wanted a way to express their outrage -- and Issue 6 provided the vehicle. The challenge now, for those who supported Issue 6 and those who opposed it, is to make this new charter work and to give Cuyahoga County the honest, effective government its citizens desire and deserve. It's a new day.
[40] The historic 2-to-1 vote in favor of Issue 6 pushes Ohio's largest county into an era of change and reflects the public's hopes for honesty and a new prosperity.
[42] Issue 5, which appeared separately on the ballot, had 28 percent of the vote. Issue 6 gives the county's 1.3 million people their first singular leader by replacing three commissioners with an elected executive and 11-member council.
[42] Voters in the fourth casino county, Franklin, overwhelmingly rejected the issue, 58-42 percent.
[35] Last year, nearly 63 percent of voters rejected a proposal for a casino in Clinton County. Dispatch Senior Editor Joe Hallett and reporters Mark Niquette and Jim Siegel contributed to this story.
[16] The proposal won in Lucas County, which includes Toledo where a casino is to be built, with 53 percent of the vote.
[19] Lucas, Cuyahoga, and Hamilton counties, homes for three of the casinos, embraced the proposal, but Franklin County, home to the Columbus venture, soundly defeated it. "They won.
[12] "I'm sure that enters into the picture," Smith said, referring to labor's potential clout with the governor. Strickland's predicament is illustrated by Franklin County Commissioner John O'Grady, a Democrat who decided to come out against the casino issue because he thinks it will harm Columbus. He said the governor's office asked him to get involved against the casino issue. "It was a hard thing to do," O'Grady said.
[3] Franklin County, which includes Columbus, is the only place slated to get a casino where the issue failed.
[19] 
The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, longtime opponents of casinos, reversed course and not only endorsed Issue 3 but became one of the casino proposal's most ardent and unapologetic supporters. [15] Detroit and Cleveland booster Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans, has pushed the measure's passage and is an investor in one of the Ohio casino proposals.
[43] Dan Gilbert, co-founder of Livonia-based Quicken Loans, helped bankroll Issue 3 and stands to gain big as a preferred purchaser of one of the four available casino licenses.
[5] The passage of Issue 3 can be attributed to a clear message that apparently appealed to a majority of voters, particularly in the large counties where the casinos will be located.
[6] The casino plan, Issue 3, jumped out to an early lead and never trailed despite the margins closing at one point as opposing votes from rural counties were counted.
[26] YOUNGSTOWN ''' Las Vegas-style casinos are finally coming to Ohio, despite the rejection of the statewide issue in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
[17] '''Given the degree of opposition in Mahoning County, it'''s not terribly unexpected''' it was rejected in the three Valley counties, said Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the Ohio Jobs & Growth Plan, which backed the ballot issue.
[17] The Ohio Jobs & Growth Committee commissioned a University of Cincinnati study that found casinos would create almost 40,000 full-time and temporary jobs.
[2] The University of Cincinnati jobs study predicted 39,251 jobs and $4 billion in overall economic impact from the four casino sites.
[2] The outcome is a repudiation of four previous statewide votes since 1990 when voters said no to casino proposals. "I think more than anything it's the aspect of the economy, jobs.
[21] Opponents don't believe the figures. They noted that the casino amendment does not give a timeframe for when the casinos will be built, and without all four casinos, the encouraging job and tax collection figures will fall well short of expectations.
[15] Nice job, fellas, you morons. Not to mention we've changed the state Constitution to pass these amendments (though there was no other way on Issue 1).
[1] Issue 2 amends the Ohio Constitution to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, which would empower the panel to write agricultural rules in the state. Backed by the Ohio Farm Bureau, the amendment also was a pre-emptive strike against the the Humane Society of the United States, which wants farmers to change the living conditions for laying hens, veal calves and breeding pigs to allow the animals to stand, sit, spread their appendages and turn around.
[26] The Humane Society of the United States also vowed a future Ohio ballot issue after it was struck a blow by the passage of Issue 2, which creates a new board to oversee livestock care.
[14] Lawmakers cannot make changes to the casino outline without going to the ballot because it was inserted into the state Constitution. "I don't know how even the newspaper that endorsed this issue could possibly object to that," Blessing said.
[14] About half of the total vote cast for the issue in Cuyahoga County, the state's most populous and where the issue had strong political support, came from early ballots.
[16] There wasn't Obama vs. McCain, yet this November's diverse menu of issues -- from gambling, to county reform to the treatment of animals -- offered plenty of reasons for Cuyahoga County residents to cast ballots. "It's a spiced-up election," said Colleen Boatman of Parma, who always votes but felt particularly compelled this year.
[1] "Whatever flaws Issue 6 has must have seemed insignificant by comparison." A year after the FBI raided the homes and offices of Dimora and Russo, Democratic county Commissioners Tim Hagan and Jones used their authority to place Issue 5 on the ballot. Their timing was viewed by some reformers as suspect, coming just six days after Issue 6 backers submitted more than enough signatures to the Board of Elections to make the ballot.
[42] If Issue 6 does pass, a year from now the county will shift to the new form of government.
[41] Even with Democrats maintaining control, Issue 6's passage is significant, providing the first serious change to county government since it was established by the state legislature in 1810.
[42] If any of that were true, I would totally agree with you! Have you even read Issue 6? It creates an elected executive and a legislature, who check each other, just like state and federal government.
[42] "The need for change has been clear for years, but the status quo dies hard," said State Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland, an Issue 6 backer.
[42] Fudge participated in drafting the Issue 6 charter, but ultimately rejected it. Those leaders, along with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and former Congressman Lou Stokes, criticized Issue 6 as an insiders game propped up by Republicans and The Plain Dealer. They also said the plan would disenfranchise black voters, expand bureaucracy, and shift the county's focus to economic development at the expense of the county's poor. Their Issue 5 alternative would have created a charter commission to study reform and recommend changes to voters in November 2010.
[42] Voters in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, approved a ballot issue Tuesday that replaces the three county commissioners with an elected county executive and an 11-member council.
[44] Voters in western Ohio's Greene County OK'd a bond issue to build five new schools in Xenia (ZEEN'-yuh).
[45] MTR funded the opposition to Issue 3, although the company has supported expanded gambling efforts in Ohio in the past. Tom Smith, Ohio Council of Churches public policy director, said the large voter turnout in the urban centers doomed his group's effort to stop Issue 3.
[26] From the beginning, opponents seemed to be fighting uphill. Issue 3 had a different attraction from the previously defeated gambling plans, with unlikely foes taking a liking to gambling and yielding a sense that maybe this time, voters would be ready for blackjack and roulette.
[15] Labor unions that have opposed gambling issues in the past were convinced by the issue's key backer, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, that the promise of jobs were legitimate and offered key grassroots support. [2] Opponents of Issue three had argued gambling would not create the jobs Gilbert promised, would spur prostitution and other criminal activity, and lead more Ohioans down a path of destructive gambling. Gilbert said his and other investors' next step is to draw up plans and secure financing.
[18] The pro-casino campaign also effectively argued that gambling already was occurring within the state's borders and that nearby states were draining dollars and jobs from Ohio. These simple messages seemed to resonate in a state that has been bleeding jobs since the turn of the century.
[6] David Zanotti of the Ohio Policy Roundtable, an anti-gambling activist, said citizens of a state with more than 10 percent unemployment were enticed by omnipresent ads promising 34,000 jobs. "It's pretty obvious that the Ohio electorate bought into the whole culture of despair that's going on with the economy," he said.
[14] Ohio's unemployment has topped 10 percent. It is the state's fifth major gambling referendum in the last two decades.
[25] Strickland also has to reconcile coming out in favor of slot machines to support the state budget after saying for years that gambling was bad for the state. "It looks like he is not entirely credible on this, the way he would have been if he had stuck all along to his anti-gambling stance," said Paul Beck, an Ohio State University Political Science Professor.
[3] If you don't like the casino do go to it, likewise, if you don't like something on T.V. don't watch it, if you don't like same gender relationship's, don't date someone of your same gender and you wont have to worry about it. Sad day for the Buckeye State, I grew up in Ohio and have such wonderful memories.
[30] If the measure passed, Ohio would become the 39th state to legalize casinos and would join Indiana and three other neighboring casino states ' Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
[4] Once the casinos in Ohio prove successful and helpful to the state and people of the state.
[17] Sorry you are wrong, nothing in the constitutional ammendment gives control of the casinos to two specific companies. Nor does it give complete control of the casino operations to the companies running the casinos. That was just more BS from the opponents of the issue. Who were those fine people? None other than the owners of the biggest and nearest casino to our area, Mountaineer in WV. Yeah, they were looking out for the people of Ohio, sure.
[26] Hardly anybody would go against getting a higher salary plus the other amenities. Sure, the passing of this issue may help our economy at the time being, but is it really worth sacrificing our moral values? People who voted on this issue will regret it later on. Unfortunately, once these casinos are built, there will be no turning back.
[10] Tracking polls showed that support for the amendment was declining. The fact that Gilbert was permitted to buy a professional basketball team was offered as proof that whatever happened in college did not rise to the level of criminality that would make him ineligible to own the Cavaliers. TruthPac and other opponents also were handicapped by the widespread belief that the Jacobs family had an ulterior motive for defeating the issue: Their casinos and racetracks at Mountaineer in Chester, W.Va., and Presque Isle in Erie, Pa., would struggle financially without Ohioans, especially the residents of the Mahoning Valley.
[27] Cavalier majority owner, Dan Gilbert is slated to open a casino in Cleveland and Cincinnati if the amendment passed.
[31] The amendment paves the way for casino plans in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
[46] Approval deals a direct blow to Michigan's casinos by allowing the construction of new gambling facilities in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
[5] Gilbert has rights for casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati; Penn in Columbus and Toledo. Gilbert and Penn are next expected to recruit investors for their casinos.
[15] Penn would build and operate the Toledo and Columbus casinos, Mr. Gilbert the Cleveland and Cincinnati ventures.
[12] The conditions include one casino in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus, but distribute a tax to all counties.
[30] The only places where there was a drop in support were Clinton, Fayette, Mahoning and Scioto counties. It passed by the widest margin in Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati where one of the casinos is to be built.
[19] The constitutional amendment taxes casino revenues at 33 percent and would distribute the funds to counties, cities, schools and gambling regulation and addiction services.
[7] The cities also must be concerned with some of the ills that have plagued casinos in other states: gambling addiction and increased crime. The proposal calls for setting aside money from casino revenues for services to treat those type of problems.
[15] Congrats guys!!! Cleveland and Ohio will now get out of the dark ages and keep all that gambling revenue in the state.
[15] "We've got to have revenue to keep state government afloat." The vote in Ohio could have a devastating impact on Kentucky racetracks, he said.
[7] The vote in Ohio says a lot about what states are doing to raise revenue during the recession, said Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort.
[7] The Melhorns of Falls Township had no doubt in their minds how they would vote for state Issue 2, as they are in the agriculture business. "We're pushing for Issue 2 to pass; it's about the farm bureau and the betterment of agriculture," said Don, a farm bureau member. "This is a major issue for Ohio.
[9] There will be all Ohio people on the board, and I'd rather have local input there than out of state." The couple has campaigned for the issue by helping put up signs and make phone calls, but they are still surprised how little people actually know about it. "It will help area farms, establish better care of cattle and a healthier lifestyle," Don said.
[9] Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish, a Beachwood Democrat who reluctantly supported Issue 3, is committed to passing legislation that ensures the best deal for the state, spokesman Keary McCarthy said last night.
[16] The final piece of the winning formula was capitalizing on the popularity of Ohio's most-liked professional team owner, Gilbert, who with Penn National Gaming of Pennsylvania were the financial backers of Issue 3.
[15] The FoP endorsed issue 3 they certainly now have job security with the added crime that will increase in Ohio.
[30] Congrats for passing issue 3. People like "Sparky700" above literally have no idea what they are talking about. This creates jobs. He cites the lottery.
[19] During the campaign, proponents of the Issue 3 claimed that 30,000-plus jobs would be created.
[27] Amanda Wurst, Strickland's spokeswoman, disagreed that Strickland wasn't active in the anti-casino campaign. She said Strickland's activities on casinos shouldn't be compared to his work for Issue 2 because each campaign had different tactics and goals. "The governor has been an outspoken critic of Issue 3 for months and has taken every opportunity to remind Ohioans how bad a deal this is," Wurst said.
[3] "Issue 3 is riddled with loopholes that will shortchange Ohio, muzzle the casino watchdogs and exempt cash wagers from the taxes casinos pay."
[14] Local legislators say approval of casinos in Ohio will make the issue more urgent in Kentucky during the 2010 legislative session.
[7] I'm so glad we've awarded Dan Gilbert with a constitutionally mandated monopoly on casino gambling in Ohio.
[15] After 7 previous attempts, a bill proposing casino gambling finally passes in Ohio.
[31] It has been a long wait for proponents of casino gambling in Ohio, but their tenacity has finally paid off.
[13] Robert LaFleur of Susquehanna Financial Group said Penn could see $90 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from the two Ohio casinos, which could add 80 cents per share to the stock.
[25] NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Penn National Gaming's (PENN) stock rose 8% to $28.31 in early trading Wednesday as the regional casino operator stands to gain from a vote.
[47] You dilute the gaming market when there's a casino in every state, and in every backyard. The worst part about this whole deal is that the Ohio General Assembly failed to take the initial steps to protect Ohioans from gaming monopolies and to create a set of laws and regulations that would establish taxes and appropriate controls.
[15] WASHINGTON -- Ohio will decide on a casino proposal that could have huge ramifications for Detroit, and other states will decide races for governor and Congress and weigh in on gay marriage.
[43] Ohio is the 39th state to legalize casinos and joined neighboring casino states Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
[7] Ohio becomes the 39th state to legalize casinos and a coveted prize that had held out among neighboring casino states Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
[14] Now we have a state chosen casino company with a monopoly on the state of Ohio.
[35] Cry that you dont want casino's in Ohio and are so proud that the valley opposed it and all in the same breath want the monies due to the area once there able to be recieved. They should have put on the ballot that if your county opposed the measure that they wouldnt recieve any of the monies when they were able to be recieved.
[17] Tuesday's ballot measure would allow one casino in each corner of the state and require casinos to pay 33% tax on receipts. Passage could hit Detroit's casinos hard.
[43] BALLOT MEASURES: Ohioans will vote for the fifth time since 1990 on whether to allow casinos to operate in the state.
[43] Tuesday will mark the fifth time in 19 years that the issue has been on the ballot in the state.
[38] There is some sentiment in Columbus, now that Ohioans have opened the door, to pursue another constitutional amendment to address what lawmakers consider to be shortcomings in Issue 3. Those include perhaps a higher tax rate with a cash-starved state budget dealt into the game.
[12] Voters were more soundly approving Issue 2, which would write a new state panel into the constitution to develop standards for the treatment of farm livestock.
[20] Issue 2 would establish the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board that would oversee animal care, food safety and ensure that farmers are following state guidelines on agricultural practices and animal raising.
[8] The backers of the issue must have known that by even getting 40% of the valley's votes they still would win. Betras knows we are still going to gamble in PA & WVA, it's what we do - let us at least get the benefits from Ohio's gambling industry that we should get.
[17] Issue 1, the bond issue for cash bonuses for Ohio veterans of recent wars, was passing with 72 percent of the vote.
[20] Ohioans also approved selling bonds to pay veterans a bonus (Issue 1) and amending the Ohio Constitution to create a 13-member agricultural oversight panel to craft rules for the treatment of farm animals (Issue 2).
[26] COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) An Ohio school district expects to bring back sports now that voters appear to have approved a funding issue after several rejections.
[45] COSHOCTON -- Voters statewide on Tuesday had three issues to consider that affect Ohio.
[8] Voters broke a streak of four failed gambling measures in Ohio by approving Issue3 with about 53 percent voting yes.
[16] The polls in recent weeks had indicated that around fifty-seven percent of voters were in favor of the casino gambling initiative.
[13] If you can't afford a cheap flight to Vegas, you probably shouldn't be gambling. Why make this more accesible to to low income people and elderly, who will certainly be frequenting the slot rooms? Make no mistake, casinos in cities like Toledo will not have the glitz and glamore of Vegas. They will be more like Detroit, full of people in sweatpants spending their weekly minimun wage paycheck.
[30] When crime, poverty and other blights on already blighted cities here in Ohio rise when the casino's are finally built and about 5,000 more people are making slightly over minimum wage (people will be asking why).
[30] Tony George, owner of the Harry Buffalo restaurant in downtown Cleveland, predicted casinos would devastate bar and restaurant business in Ohio. "Once people go inside the casino, they're not going to leave the casino," said George, president of the Licensed Business Owners of Ohio, which represents 586 restaurants and taverns.
[15] Connecting flights to the casinos will allow the gamblers to relax and arrive refreshed. Can you say high roller ? The people of Ohio have spoken with their votes and they are destined to reap the rewards. As a gesture of compassion cardboard shelters will be put up for those who can't afford the flight back home from the casinos.
[27] Shame on you Youngstownites. we have collectively been working on Casino development in Ohio for 20 years now. Now that the door has finally been opened, the people of the Valley reject it!!! That's O.K. I'm hurt, but I'll still get you your casino in the Valley. regardless of your visual casino development limitations.
[17] Lawmakers now have six months to draft laws and legislation that will determine how casinos will operate in Ohio. Mayor Mark Mallory also won his bid for re-election, beating out challenger Brad Wenstrup, 54% to 46%. This gives Mallory his second-term as Mayor of Cincinnati. Winning in the polls were the Cincinnati Public schools, with their levy renewal passing easily.
[33] Our elected officials would have to enact law themselves to legalize casinos in Ohio in order to open it up to bidding. They would never do that because it would upset the chatholics and the race tracks and make things difficult at re-election time. Their own self interests made it necessary for this law to be written by developers.
[15] Early election night results suggested Ohio voters are far more receptive to throwing their lot in with casinos than in the past.
[20] Support was small in three eastern Ohio counties, where residents cross the Ohio River to work at West Virginia casinos.
[19] Truth PAC was funded by West Virginia-based MRT Gaming which owns casinos in West Virginia and Pennsylvania that stand to lose business when Ohio gets casinos.
[21] I've always liked the idea of getting casinos in Ohio, I never liked the idea of amending the Constitution to do it. I feel that doing this will somehow lead to even more corruption than the ECheck program has. I did vote against it for those reasons.
[26] OHIO (WANE/AP) - With 99% of precincts reporting unofficial results, a referendum to legalize casinos in Ohio passed with 53% of the vote Tuesday.
[46] Mike Smith, executive director of the Casino Association of Indiana, said Indiana should take steps to protect its casino market, regardless of whether the Ohio referendum passed.
[4] Toledo's casino, as etched into the Ohio Constitution, would be on a 44-acre reclaimed industrial site on the south bank of the Maumee River in East Toledo abutting Rossford and I-75.
[12] Ohio has the 4th highest casino tax rate.we easily could of had the highest.
[26] The state will collect a 33-percent tax against casino revenues after payouts to gamblers.
[15] As for casinos, great. The people that think the poor will waste all their money there, where do you think their money goes now?? Probably to drugs, alcohol, cigs etc. And if they want to spend their money on that or a casino, that is their problem. It is more cash for our state. Lastly, I just hope the politicians keep their word on where the cash is actually used.
[26] The police will need the extra training for the problems the casinos will cause. They should have asked for money for more police. It saddened me too Scott. I am going to ask my state representative to craft a criminal law such that if a gambling addict commits a crime, the casino owners and share holders can be held liable for punitive damages caused by the addict on the person or property of the victims.
[37] The state will need to create a gambling oversight commission to establish rules before ground can be broken on the casinos.
[26] The casino operators will pay a $50 million license fee upfront to the state and make an investment of $250 million in each casino facility.
[23] The Columbus Dispatch reported that the FOP would receive two percent of casino taxes yearly an estimated $13 million for police training.
[37] In addition to positioning the casinos in counties with large numbers of votes, the proponents also ran a strong campaign that included getting endorsements from major unions, the Fraternal Order of Police, local politicians, including mayors in all site cities except Columbus, and the NAACP chapters in urban centers.
[26] Unofficial results show the tax issue for the South-Western district outside Columbus passed on Tuesday by about 450 votes.
[45] With 53 percent of precincts reporting, 72 percent of voters are rejecting Issue 5, while Issue 6 is passing with 66 percent of the vote.
[41] Unofficial results posted shortly after midnight showed Issue 6 had captured 66 percent of the vote.
[42] Issue 1, which will give bonuses to Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraqi conflict veterans, passed with more than 70 percent of the vote statewide.
[26] The proposal lost in all 88 counties and received just 38 percent of the vote statewide. It ran strongest in Mahoning County (49 percent) and was also close in Lorain (46 percent) and Cuyahoga (45 percent) counties. It lost statewide with just 38 percent of the vote but passed in Lorain County with 63 percent.
[19] The proposal carried just 38 pecent of the vote in Columbiana County, 45 percent in Jefferson County and 45 percent in Belmont County. It failed with only 37 percent support statewide but passed in Clinton County with 57 percent.
[19] With 99 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial returns showed 53 percent support for the casino proposal.
[4] JPMorgan's Joseph Greff said in a client note that if the casinos house 10,000 slot machines, International Game Technology ( IGT - news - people ) could take 45 percent of the market share, with WMS Industries Inc. ( WMS - news - people ) and Bally Technologies Inc. ( BYI - news - people ) each pulling in a 20 percent share of the business. This could add earnings of about 6 cents per share to IGT, 16 cents per share to WMS and 15 cents per share to Bally's, earnings probably by late 2011, he explained.
[25] Supporters of the casinos say that the projects will create 34,000 new jobs for people.
[10] As for minimum wage Jobs, maybe maybe-not, some will be others will not. The only Retard may be yourself bringing the mindset that its a bad idea to bring casinos because all it will be is Minimum wage Jobs, this will likely be a good portion yes, but also will create and impact many others as well making well above minimum wage. Such as the trades that will be employed to build the casinos, business impacted around them, people to run the casinos, the list Goes on.
[30] While anti-gambling groups focused on the same outdated scare tactics, the Jobs and Growth Committee offered reasons for why casinos would be good for the state.
[13] One of the "selling points" was that the casino's would bring over 34,000 jobs to the state.
[17] An economic impact study predicted nearly 40,000 temporary and permanent jobs and $4 billion in economic impact. Steuben County, Indiana leaders are pushing their own casino referendum.
[46] Voters want casinos in urban corridors to spark economic development and create jobs, Gilbert said.
[26] Well-financed campaign and message of jobs and money leaving the state appeared to strike chord with voters.
[21] If you have that bad of a gambling problem you really should see someone. I think its a good thing, going to bring money to the state and with that more jobs are created.
[30] The proliferation of gambling is watering down the profits of the entire industry. He's also correct about Strickland selling out for the money Ohio so desperately needs to fulfill all those state pension and health care obligations for the employees.
[17] There is hope for Ohio after all. Anyone who thinks gambling is going to ruin this state is a complete fool.
[26] Every educated religious zealot will tell you that sin lies within us, and our ability to deal with temptation, not because there are a couple of new buildings in Ohio. We shouldn't ban automobiles because there are speeders, we shouldn't outlaw cheeseburgers and apple pie because of the obesity in this state. In this country and in this state we should have the freedom to chose for ourselves what we want to do with our nickles. I know several people that would love to be making "just over minimum wage" despite your perceived state of their mental retardation.
[30] These people against the casinos calling people retards shows their level of intelligence. I guess they are ok with pouring millions into our neighboring states pockets.
[30] I know of more than a handful of people who frequently go out of state just to use the casinos.
[8] "We're going to deliver something very special, and we're going to work very hard with a lot of people," said Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and owner-to-be of two of the casinos. "This is not going to be a savior by any means, but it's another brick in the wall."
[16] Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, left, is congratulated by Tom Whatman, who ran the campaign team for Issue 3 Wednesday in Cleveland.
[7] History was made. In this year'''s general election, Ohioans were obviously turned off by opponents of Issue 3 digging up Gilbert'''s record as a bookie while he was a college student and concluded that the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers was being smeared.
[27] "I'm glad there will be no more of that," Ron Baldwin said. On the contentious Issue 3, Jan Baldwin said "someone is going to gamble, so they might as well do it in Ohio." She said it seemed like every other commercial was about Issue 3. "It was quite excessive, we got phone calls about it. They were calling us this morning," she said. Both admitted not having much information about Issue 1 -- "we never knew what it was, because they didn't advertise like the others," Jan explained -- and said they also received calls about Issue 2.
[9] Tom Smith, Ohio Council of Churches public policy director and an Issue 3 opponent, was not optimistic. ''I think they are ultimately going to win.
[6] "Many Issue 3 supporters genuinely believe it will help Ohio's economic recovery. I hope they are right. I fear they are wrong," she said.
[14] Michael Markarian, the Humane Society's chief operating officer, said the group will return to Ohio with a future ballot measure that protects animals. "By packaging Issue 2 as a pro-animal and pro-food safety measure, the factory farming interests really did everything they could to ensure its passage," he said.
[14] Wayne Pacelle, the U.S. Humane Society's president and CEO, said the farm bureau and other agribusiness lobbying groups pushed for the measure in an effort to block true reform. He said his group decided against wasting money to defeat Issue 2 and instead will devote those resources for a future effort, possibly a ballot issue of their own next year, to phase out extreme confinement conditions for animals.
[26] Rollins, Graham and Carroll support expanded gambling. It has been an issue in Kentucky for years, but bills have never gotten past the legislature. It is expected to be a major issue in the 2010 session because of a severe shortage of revenue.
[7] You have now given the power and authority to one individual who will have the support of 11 friends. Why is it that Bill Mason was behind this issue and his job was one of the ones spared?? I can agree with eliminating some of the offices but, an appointed Sheriff - are you kidding me?? Please do your homework when it comes to electing the County Executive and the 11 County Council members.
[42] Zanotti, a Democrat, helped draft Issue 6 along with Democratic County Prosecutor Bill Mason and Bruce Akers, the Republican Mayor of Pepper Pike. Harriet Applegate, the top AFL-CIO leader in the region who opposed reform now also said corruption is what gave reform political legs this time out when similar efforts had failed so many times before. DAVID: It means they've got some talkin' to do.
[48] Right now it is a divided party and many of the most powerful Democrats as it turns out were lined up on the losing side of county reform - Mayor Frank Jackson, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, former Congressman Lou Stokes among othersall opposed Issue 6. It'll be interesting to see how they adjust and whether this internal party struggle continues or is somehow healed.
[48] On Issue 6, which would get rid of the scandal-marred county commission and substitute an executive and an 11-member elected council, absentee voters supported the plan by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
[1] Voters did not want to wait to reform government. Supporters of Issue 6 claim they've won and that Issue 5 will go down in defeat.
[41] The reorganized government will be seated in 2011 and inherit a $1.5 billion budget and about 8,500 employees. Pressure will mount to deliver on what Issue 6 backers promised throughout their campaign: a more efficient, transparent and accountable government that would make economic development a priority.
[42] On a parallel track, a group called TruthPAC ran a $6 million campaign against Issue 3.
[21] Large farm operators mounted a $4 million campaign to pass the issue, which was backed by Gov. Ted Strickland, while environmental, animal rights and other activists fought it mostly through the press and the Internet.
[14] Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert and his partner Penn National Gaming raised more than $35 million for the pro-Issue 3 campaign.
[21] The state will receive $50 million for each license and then the developers, Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans, Penn National Gaming and others will spend hundreds of millions of dollars constructing the facilities.
[27] Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Penn National Gaming, pulled off what other groups had failed to accomplish four times since 1990.
[26] "The fifth time is the charm," said Tim Wilmot, president of Penn National. "It's been a great, great partnership, and we look forward to building four world-class facilities in Ohio." Gilbert's impact was tangible as late in the campaign, TruthPAC shifted its strategy and targeted him with harsh personal attacks. Both sides accused each other of spreading lies.
[15] The governor may not have helped the anti-casino campaign by making lots of comments and appearances. The Ohio Poll by the University of Cincinnati released Friday had Strickland's approval rating at 48 percent — the first time the poll has had him below 50 percent since he took office in January 2007.
[3] CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outraged by public corruption and economic woes, Cuyahoga County voted Tuesday to dramatically restructure a government that dates back 200 years. [42] CLEVELAND ( Map, News ) - Ohio's most populace county is remaking its government to replace an administration targeted by a federal corruption investigation.
[44] This is a historic event for Northeast Ohio! Next, we need to dissolve the city and suburban governments, and essentially make the new County Charter Govt. "Cleveland 2.0!" Seriously.
[42] With 1.3 million people, Cleveland would not only reclaim the largest city spot over Columbus for Ohio, we would move up to No. 8 overall in the U.S., between San Antonio and San Diego. [42] Here is an overview of the stories covering key issues and races in Greater Cleveland and across Ohio.
[1] Ohio Issue 2, which will create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to write agricultural rules, also passed.
[39] Quit going on by what the opposing commercials say. If that was truly the case would the Fraternal Order of Police support this issue. This is good for Ohio and its economy.
[10] Seriously? You cant wait to say I told you so? You shouldn't live in Ohio, represent your state, support your fellow citizens, and support whether you believe or not, it is your obligation to support it and give it a chance.
[30] The opposition was poorly funded. Robert Boggs, Ohio Department of Agriculture director, applauded the amendment's passage, and said he looks forward to chairing the livestock board. ''The diverse group of experts serving on this board, together with Ohio's citizens, will work to create a fair, uniform set of standards that ensure the safe and humane treatment of the state's livestock and poultry, therefore sustaining the viability of Ohio's family farmers and assuring safe, affordable food for all citizens,'' Boggs said.
[26] We lost,'' said Rob Walgate, vice president of the anti-gambling Ohio Roundtable. "One of the many faults of this amendment is that now, constitutionally, Franklin County is stuck with something it didn't want. That's part of the process when you do this in the constitution.''
[12] Voting results indicate that a constitutional amendment will be passed. This amendment will give bonuses to Ohio residents that served during the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts.'' Those who saw action will see $100 per month of service up to $1,000.'' Families of veterans killed will receive $5,000 and those who were noncombatant will get $50 per month of service up to $500.
[29] Budish has not broached the possibility of putting another amendment on the ballot to change the casinos' terms.
[16] Thank our elected officials for this, not the voters. This was the only way we were ever going to get casinos in this state.
[15] I will be in a beautiful champagne-cigar bar in Vegas in 11 days, where adults can relax, enjoy a drink and a cigar while listening to two pianos being played simultaneously. There is no reason why we cannot have one of these in our state at the new casinos.
[15] If we achieve half of that I'll be surprised. I can't believe we actually wrote into our state constitution where the casino's will be and who will own them! That's like writing into our federal constitution that microsoft will determine what operating system will be in all computers. That's unfair, since there would be no competition, which our capitalist economy is based on.
[17] And, of course, the referendum passing. There's a lot of hurdles yet for this community to overcome to get a casino here." The gaming committee is working on a report in which it will lay out its recommendations on gaming in Indiana. That report will be turned over to the state legislature when it's back in session in January.
[46] Betras said he'''ll contact members of the Valley'''s state legislative delegation today to discuss the laws that need to be drafted and passed before the casinos can operate. '''I will urge them to do everything in their power to ensure that the Valley receives all the funding to which we are entitled, inadequate as it may be,''' he said.
[17] Glad it passed, maybe the politicians in this state will learn that passing contrived bills written by PAC's is bad and that our 'leaders' should have done their job of leading. That and well, a drive to Cleveland is much less expensive than a flight to Vegas.
[26] Now the state can work on more pressing issues: Job creation, School funding, and Healthcare. We tend to get bogged down and entrenched in positions on both sides of the aisle without ever solving the real hard issues facing all Ohioans.
[26] I apologize for Dev to all of the people with mentally challenged children. For a state that has lost so many jobs its refreshing to see there will be hope for a lot of unemplyed.
[30] People will want to come to OHIO instead of going to that other place up north, what is that place called? Any way more money more jobs for everybody.
[30] Casino supporters also say the projects would create 34,000 new jobs, including 19,000 construction jobs.
[17] Time will only tell if that public promise as well as the overall promise of 19,000 jobs created during the initial investment and construction phase as well as 16,000 permanent jobs once the 4 casinos begin to operate will come to fruition.
[31] I would have preferred factory jobs to the mess that will be created by the casinos. A lot of us voted against this, but we will still have to pay, in more ways than one.
[10] I voted for the the casino BUT one thing is that when the lottery came to town there were people proclaiming that all the school problems will be solved if we just allow the lottery.
[26] I'm not opposed to gambling. I don't care if they get casinos. I'm just poking fun at those people on the holiday tree thread who are all for the holiday tree because it's not in the bible, but oppose gambling with quotes from the bible which don't address gambling verbatim.
[7] Legalized gambling won't be so bad. Now all the poor people can give their very last dime to the casino owner. Maybe they will quit standing on the corner of RTE 8 and Buchtel now.
[26] Again, it all comes down to personal accountability. My husband and I have had our share of hard financial times and not once did I think, "Hmm. instead of buying milk with this 2 dollars, I'll play 2 lotto tickets." People with that mindset need help before they even step INTO the casino.
[26] People, people, people, we all know casinos aren't the answer, but those investors are willing to put their money where their mouth is.
[17] "The livestock thing, I did just a little bit of research and I guess other states have had a little bit of trouble of having other people come in to take care of that stuff. I'd rather have Ohioans take care of those issues themselves," said Martin.
[8] There were several issues on Tuesday's ballot that will play a prominent role in the shaping future of the region and the state.
[1] Proponents of the issue mounted a big push to get voters to the polls and to vote by absentee ballot.
[16] Voters have changed the process, but there's no issue vote that can change idiot voters electing morons to positions in this region.
[42] With 91 percent of the precincts statewide counted, Issue 3 led with 53 percent of voters saying yes.
[21] With 99 percent of precincts reporting unofficial results, Issue 3 passed 53 percent to 47 percent.
[14] "History shows that gambling and drugs go together." David Martin of Franklin Township said that he "voted for the cows and against the casinos." He said the costs of Issue 3 weren't worth the benefits it might provide.
[8] I voted against Issue 3, so this is one social ill I won't be blaming myself for.
[26] I am really shocked at the narrowmindedness of the people of the valley in opposing Issue 3.
[17] The commons lost out to the riverfront for that bid. Now, with passage of Issue 3, there is hopes of new life in this area that has been hit hard by a poor economy.
[33] The new blueprint created by Issue 6 is eminently sensible -- it has clear lines of responsibility and balanced powers. Make no mistake, this change is a product of two crises.
[40] Issue 6 backers promised that restructuring county government would produce a more efficient, effective, accountable and honest government. They've got a lot to live up.
[48] Issue 6 backers said the proposal to create a charter commission was nothing more than a veiled effort to confuse voters and delay any change.
[42] The issue was approved by 64 percent of voters, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
[14] With 84 percent of precincts reporting unofficial results, the issue won with 66 percent of the vote and 34 percent against.
[44] Rob Walgate, co-chair of Vote No Casinos, conceded shortly after 11 p.m. "They won and we lost," he said. "Thankfully, the commercials are over and they can sit back and deliver on all their promises."
[16] The point is, with more casinos coming in, you won't have a chance for even a modest win of $300.
[30] Shares of Penn are soaring by 8.1% to $28.32, as it will run two of the four casinos.
[23] Penn National president David Wilmott predicted all four casinos would be built in a little over two years.
[14] In a press conference Wednesday, Penn officials announced the casino will be named Hollywood Casino Toledo. Penn already operates seven casinos under the Hollywood name at locations such as Baton Rouge and St. Louis. Justin Michaels will have more on this report on News 11 at Noon. Stay with WTOL.com and News 11 for more on this developing story.
[49] The casino operator is on tap to own the casinos in Columbus and Toledo, while Gilbert will develop the remaining properties.
[25] The measure carried by large majorities in the Cleveland and Cincinnati areas, won with a smaller majority in Toledo, and lost in Franklin County.
[16] Marcia Fudge and Dennis Kucinich, former Reps. Louis Stokes and Mary Rose Oakar, County Treasurer Jim Rokakis, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and North Shore AFL-CIO leader Harriet Applegate -- need to ask themselves how they could have been so horribly out of touch with the people they purport to represent. In defense of their turf, they resorted to all the old tricks -- appeals along racial, partisan and class lines -- and none of them worked because the voters were too smart and too angry.
[40] Great night for reformers, taxpayers, decent county employees, PD Editor Susan Goldberg, League of Women Voters, FCE, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Bill Mason & Zannoti & Dan Gilbert.
[42] Gilbert gave remarks on the Cavs' Web site shortly before midnight. ''I want to thank the voters of Ohio tonight who have spoken on this,'' Gilbert said. ''They put that trust in us.'' He promised to get started this morning by meeting with Gov. Ted Strickland, legislative leaders and mayors.
[26] Voter turnout was high in Northeast Ohio for a year that did not feature a presidential campaign.
[1] 72% of the voters rejected a competing proposal to study county reform a year before acting. DAVID: Well, they are both pointing to the same reason for the outcome - the federal investigation of what appears to be a long-standing system of corruption in county government.
[48] The message was the perfect salve to wounded voter confidence, shaken by more than a year of headlines about rampant patronage and cronyism in county offices, as documented by The Plain Dealer, and by allegations of public corruption emerging from an ever-growing corruption investigation by the U.S. Justice Department.
[42] "The public was absolutely disgusted and sickened by what it saw in public corruption," said County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, one of the leaders of the Issue 5 campaign. [42] Democrats who control the county commission pushed for a charter commission to study and suggest changes. That ballot issue was rejected Tuesday.
[44] Residents in Cuyahoga County approved creation of a charter form of county government, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has a rough road ahead after being re-elected to a second term, and city taxes faced stiff opposition at ballot boxes across the region.
[1] If slot machines pop up across the border, Angola Mayor Richard Hickman (D) says a possible casino in Steuben County would still be successful. He adds, there is still a long fight ahead before the area gets one.
[46] Parma Heights Mayor Martin Zanotti says the corruption probe which has resulted in nearly 20 guilty pleas so far "made people pay more attention to county government."
[48] Among Ohio's 88 counties, only Summit County, which includes Akron, has a county executive form of government.
[44] The most recent attempt was last year, when the Ohio Legislature, motivated by the federal investigation, appointed a nine-member commission to recommend an alternative form of government.
[42] Hard working people with great family values. They say that as Ohio goes so goes the nation well gambling and illegal activity never lead to good things.
[30] The vote on Tuesday in Ohio was the fifth attempt by gambling supporters in the past two decades.
[7] The track is just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati and would have yet another gambling venue as competition for the region's entertainment dollars.
[4] The social costs of expanded gambling were not considered. Associated Press Writer Meghan Barr contributed to this report from Columbus and Associated Press writer Lisa Cornwell contributed from Cincinnati.
[2] The FOP never endorsed any of the previous gambling issues. I guess it was because they weren't getting a piece of the action in any of the other proposals.
[37] Ohioans defeated four gambling proposals over the past two decades. Cleveland developer Jeff Jacobs, who funded TruthPAC, the primary anti-Issue 3 effort, had hoped to make this the fifth to go down.
[15] The Cleveland Police are already over-burdened. When the casinos come into town it's going to get exponentially worse. For those of you out there who voted for this here is a personal message from me.
[30] Hopefully all the undesireable fallout will stay within the boundaries of the counties that voted for casinos.
[35] Any development to the urban core(s) has to be viewed as a positive for the surrounding counties. In order for any casino to be succesful, though, they are going to need to attract all Ohioans. including those in Holmes, Knox, and Wayne counties who voted no.
[19] A permanent 33% tax on gross casino revenues will also be imposed. J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff said that, assuming 10,000 slots and shares of 45% for International Game Technology and 20% each for Bally and WMS, this would add 6 cents, 16 cents and 15 cents of earnings per share in late 2011, respectively.
[23] Casinos are not the only businesses filing for bankruptcy. It is a sign of the economic times. As for you arguement that the surrounding geography looks like a war zone, I suggest you look at V&M Steel and tell me what businesses followed this great investment and improved the surrounding areas.
[17] Casinos bring Crime and other Illegal activity, what supports that theory other than what you have heard and information you follow like the sheep you are.
[30] The Pennsylvania based gaming company, will develop two of the four proposed casinos. [34] The ballot measure calls for the creation of a state gaming board within six months, and barring any unforeseen delays the hope is to break ground on the facilities by the second half of 2010.
[18] Just across the river from Cincinnati is Turfway Park, whose president, Bob Elliston, says it wasn'''t surprising to watch the returns come in on the measure, but it is frustrating to a Kentucky horse track owner. '''Had we taken the step necessary, particularly on the Senate side, this summer, we could be in the business of constructing facilities and employing people now, rather than reacting to another state getting a leg up on us," says Elliston.
[36] And, the desire for streetcars is still alive, with voters turning down a measure that would have required public approval to spend city funds on light rail and other transportation issues. Other winners included the Public Library, MRDD, and the Union Terminal, which will receive funding to continue maintenance on the historic landmark.
[33] ZANESVILLE -- Traffic circulated through the parking lot at Coburn United Methodist Church on Maple Avenue as a steady stream of voters like Don and Anita Melhorn turned out to weigh in on various issues and candidates Tuesday afternoon.
[9] Some portend future political battles. It looks like both Cleveland council members whose district boundaries were redrawn will hold new seats -- Zak Reed won Ward 2 and Brian Cummins won Ward 14. Their votes are expected to play big when council decides if Martin Sweeney should remain president.
[28] Perhaps some of you have visited Greektown up in Detroit. It's a beautiful facility, but the surrounding geography looks like a war zone. It brought few new businesses and jobs.
[17] The group has suggested in ads, flyers, media campaigns and news conferences that the job figures are exaggerated, the backers' business motives are suspect and the proposed tax formula is unfair.
[2] The tax money will be distributed to all 88 counties and the host cities. The campaign also promised jobs -- 34,000 of them.
[15] Typical Mahoning Valley. Maybe it's time for this area to start being pro-active in place of re-active. The valley will be receiving approx. 27 million dollars to go towards police, fire, schools, etc. This in turn will free up current tax dollars that could be used to start "creating" job opportunities and programs to build this community.
[17] Don't forget the pay roll tax from the hired employees, the other tax from the other jobs created from the people that get jobs.
[1] A study commissioned by the campaign predicted nearly 40,000 jobs and $4 billion in economic impact.
[24] In 2009, Strickland has received $5,000 from the Ohio AFL-CIO, $5,000 from the Building and Construction Trades Council, more than $10,600 from the United Food and Commercial Workers, and $1,000 from the Fraternal Order of Police, according to campaign finance records.
[3] The top contenders include City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who was trying to become the city's first white mayor in a generation. • In New York, billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to spend more than $100 million of his fortune in a bid for a third term, the most expensive self-financed campaign in American history.
[43] The proponents raised millions of dollars for advertising and other campaign tactics to build support for the issue.
[26] "There is no guarantee of how the money would be spent, BUT IT COULD EASILY PAY FOR LOCAL POLICE SALARIES, BENEFITS, EQUIPMENT." Don't you see that the Fraternal Order of Police have an incentive to support this issue? They could potentially get higher salaries, more benefits, and more equipment. They support this issue. They are throwing safety out the window.
[10] Issue 2 won by a landslide and was for nothing more than to support corporate chicken and egg farms. This makes small farmers even LESS competitive than before.
[1] Well, Issue 3 was defeated in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, but the margin really had no impact on the statewide passage. Betras can find some comfort in the fact that Valley residents agreed with him, but in the end he took it on the chin.
[27] Party leaders created Issue 5 as a group of other Democrats and Republicans neared placing Issue 6 on the ballot.
[42] • Voters in Maine have the opportunity to make it the first state to approve gay marriage at the ballot box with a referendum on a same-sex marriage law approved by legislators in May.
[43] Voters also approved a ballot initiative to grant $1,000 bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq, which is the first time bonuses have been offered to veterans of a war that is still going on.
[39] Congratulations Cuyahoga County voters! What a better way to end patronage and croynism than to vote in a reform plan that gives absolute power to one person with NO checks and balances! I've wondered why this county has been flourishing for so long and last night I realized it's because we have so many intelligent voters casting ballots every November.
[42] Next highest percentage of yes votes were in Cuyahoga, Lake and Clermont Counties (65 percent each), and Brown County (64 percent).
[19] The biggest no vote came from Holmes County, where only 31 percent voted yes.
[19] With all precincts reporting late Tuesday, unofficial returns from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections showed Jackson with 77 percent of the vote.
[1] The measure received 44.39 percent support in Mahoning County, 49.44 percent support in Trumbull, and 38.17 percent in Columbiana.
[17] Here are unofficial results with 100 percent of precincts reporting in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and with 98.06 percent of precincts, 101 of 103, reporting in Columbiana County.
[17] With 91 percent of precincts reporting, the question passed 53 percent to 47 percent in Ohio Tuesday. [7] An amendment establishing a board to oversee care of livestock passed, 64 percent to 36 percent, with 90 percent of the vote counted.
[21] In the 1999 study, gambling was found to be widespread with 82 percent of U.S. adults reporting gambling during the previous year.
[37] What happend to capitalism? Why is the government picking winners and losers? Just open up the state to gambling and let the free market decide winners and losers.
[35] Voters in Virginia, New Jersey, Maine and other states let their conservative voices be heard yesterday at the polls.
[33] Zanotti said, "I think the voters said very clear, 'Look! We want change and we want it now. It's time for a new future and you guys have made a good case.
[41] Over the last century, reformers have tried at least eight times to change the county structure, but voters or the legislators rejected each attempt.
[42] Franklin County voters stomped the measure on Election Day, but heavily favored it in early voting.
[16] Michael A. Fox, former Butler county commissioner and state lesiglator, was indicted today on charges of mail fraud, conspiracy and tax violations.
[33] For instance, Mahoning County would receive more than $20 million a year.
[27] In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator who narrowly lost the attorney general's race to McDonnell four years ago, are running to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
[43] Let's all meet back here in a few years and compare scars. I'm sure everyone will wonder how something this stoooopid got written into our state constitution.
[26] You won't see me forking over my money either, my point is that those that do want to gamble should have the right and not have to take their hard earned money to other states.
[26] People who claim that gambling addiction is not a problems that we should worry about clearly know nothing about addiction or sociology. It's very nice to know that some people can limit their gambling to the money they bring with them; it should go without saying, however, that this means those people have X amount of money they can afford to blow on nothing. When one is in economic hardship, however, the idea of the big quick payoff through gambling is very tempting, however much it's also a pie-in-the-sky idea. When a person is desperate, they're often willing to try anything that has even a remote chance of getting them out of the hole.
[26] Kem the Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. It does warn us to stay away from the love of money and get rich quick skeams. In moderation gambling is no more evil than some of the other frivilous things people spend their money on.
[30] About Ohio did the right thing. I feel sorry for the ignorant people of the cities who think this is going to solve all their economic problems. They have just opened up more problems than had. It's a shame God doesn't come first in their lives.
[30] Maybe next time you should do a little research before you vote. When visitors come to these establishments, it's to gamble and party which equates to more bars, strip clubs, drugs you name it. Then are we going to pay more taxes to hire more police? When you have a domestic call at 3 in the morning outside of the city, do you really think they will come running when they can't as it is? Stupid call people you will regret this 'uninformed, unresearched' decision. This is sad.
[30] Fairview Park had the greatest number of issues at stake, with a dozen measures, most of them fine-tuning city government. They include measures establishing term lengths and veto-override power for the council and making charter language gender-neutral.
[1] The county's absentee voting totals on the gambling proposal were 114,495 yes, and 52,557 no.
[1] SOURCES1.
Cuyahoga County votes to change government; Ohio to gamble on casinos and Frank Jackson re-elected: Election Roundup | Politics and Elections - cleveland.com -2.
The Associated Press: Economy hovers over Ohio casino referendum vote3.
The Associated Press: PERSPECTIVE: Ohio governor quiet on casinos4.
Anxious Kentuckians, Hoosiers watch as Ohio voters approve casinos | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal5.
Ohioans bet on plan to open 4 casinos | detnews.com | The Detroit News6.
Ohio.com - State issues pass7.
State-Journal.com - Ohio says yes to casinos. Are we next?8.
Local electorate focused on Issue 3 | coshoctontribune.com | Coshocton Tribune9.
Casino, farm issues draw local voters to polls | zanesvilletimesrecorder.com | Zanesville Times Recorder10.
Issue 3 Ohio 2009 Results: Shows Casino Support11.
Voters Approve Casinos In Ohio - News Story - WTOV Steubenville12.
toledoblade.com --13.
Ohio Voters Say "Yes" To Casino Gambling, Issue 3 Approved14.
Struggling Ohio Votes to Open Doors to Casinos - FOXNews.com15.
Cleveland to get its casino; Voters OK gambling, approve Issue 3 | Politics and Elections - cleveland.com -16.
Issue 3: Ohio OKs casinos | The Columbus Dispatch17.
Ohioans OK casino gambling, but Mahoning Valley voters reject state Issue 3 - Local & Regional News, Elections - Vindy.com, The Vindicator18.
Ohio Voters Approve Casino Gambling / WCPN.org19.
Ohio Casino vote passes on strength near would-be casinos; a look at the vote | Data Central from The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com impact blog - Cleveland Ohio Statistics & Demographics | Data Central - cleveland.com20.
toledoblade.com --21.
Ohioans approve casinos for 4 cities22.
About 40 percent of Ohio voters turn out for election dominated by casino issue - WXIN23.
Casino Wins Big in Ohio Vote | Top Business News | Financial Articles & Investing News | TheStreet.com24.
The Associated Press: Voters in struggling Ohio approve 4 urban casinos25.
Sector Snap: Ohio vote buoys some casino stocks - Forbes.com26.
Ohio.com - Casinos win Ohio27.
Casino foes overplay their hand - Local & Regional News, Bertram de Souza - Vindy.com, The Vindicator28.
WKSU News: Northeast Ohio election highlights29.
Ohio Voting Results 2009: Issue 2 Ohio Results 2009 are in | TechBanyan30.
Issue 3 Ohio Results | Issue 3 Ohio 2009 | Issue 3 Results | Issue 3 Ohio | Issue 3 Ohio 2009 Results | Ohio Election Results 200931.
Did Issue 3 pass based upon employment promises?32.
Ohio Gaming Expansion Supported Narrowly | Standardbred Canada33.
Casinos, streetcars and schools win support in Cincinnati34.
Penn National Can Develop Casinos In Ohio35.
Welcome to OxfordPress!36.
89.3 WFPL | Kentucky Track Operators Watch Ohio Voters Approve Casinos37.
WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Casinos in Ohio38.
Casino Bid in Recession-Battered Ohio - WSJ.com39.
Ohio voters approve issues 1,2 and 3 - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -40.
By passing Issue 6 and rejecting Issue 5, voters in Cuyahoga County have shown they're smarter than many of their "leaders" thought -- editorial | Opinion, Editorials, Letters and Columns from The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - - Opinions, Editorials, Letters and Columns from The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com41.
Cuyahoga Co. Voters Call For Government Reform - News Story - WEWS Cleveland42.
Issue 6 reform wins big and sets in motion even bigger changes for Cuyahoga County | Politics and Elections - cleveland.com -43.
Ohio casinos, gay marriage on ballots | freep.com | Detroit Free Press44.
Voters in biggest Ohio county to remake government - Examiner.com45.
Voters approve levy for Ohio school district that dropped sports after series of rejections - WXIN46.
Mayor says IN casinos still viable47.
Penn National Rallies After Ohio Approves Gaming - WSJ.com48.
Analysis of Issue 6 Vote / WCPN.org49.
Penn National reveals name of Toledo-area casino - WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 |GENERATE A MULTI-SOURCE SUMMARY ON ANY SUBJECTEnter your search query below. WAIT 10-20 sec for the new window to open.
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