issue 3

Money made the difference in casino campaigning

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By Laura A. Bischoff and William Hershey
Staff Writers Updated 6:59 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

COLUMBUS — “We’re going to deliver something very special.”

That was the promise on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert after it became clear that Ohioans had given him and his partners a historic vote that is sure to change the character of the state.

Ohioans gave the go-ahead to build Las Vegas-style casinos in Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Proponents of Issue 3 promised that their plan to build four casinos would bring 19,000 construction jobs, 15,000 permanent jobs and at least $1 billion in investment.

That turned out to be a powerful and winning message in a state where more than one out of 10 workers is looking for a job. The state’s 10.1 percent unemployment rate in September was three points higher than the jobless rate when voters rejected a pitch a year ago for a casino near Wilmington last November.

Voters had rejected four gambling issues since 1990.

Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the pro-casino Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, said support from organized labor, especially police and firefighter unions, helped the issue win. “People understood the message that this was a way to create jobs and tax revenue for local communities.”

Tom Smith, public policy director for the Ohio Council of Churches and a leading casino opponent, said the economic message was a strong one, but he also criticized the TruthPAC opposition campaign, funded mainly by MTR Gaming Group Inc., which has gambling operations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

“I think they got too involved in personalities and not enough in talking about the shortcomings,” said Smith.

Money spoke loud and clear in this casino campaign. Issue 3 backers — Gilbert and Penn National Gaming Inc. — raised and spent more than $35 million to win over the voters while the opponents raised $6 million.

“They bought the election fair and square,” said Dave Zanotti, president of the anti-casino Ohio Roundtable.

Unlike the 2008 casino proposal, Issue 3 promised casinos for the state’s four major population centers, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo. The issue was winning big in all of those cities except Columbus. It also won in Montgomery, Clark, Preble, Warren and Butler counties.

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