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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ballot measures seeking to turn the defunct Multnomah Kennel Club into a casino have been approved by the Oregon Supreme Court, supporters said Thursday.
Lake Oswego entrepreneurs Bruce Studer and Matthew Rossman say they have arranged millions of dollars in financing to build the state’s first nontribal casino at the now-closed greyhound park in Wood Village.
But the approval, confirmed by the state attorney general’s office, leaves Rossman and Studer with only a month to collect more than 175,000 signatures needed to get the measures on the November ballot.
The casino backers tried to begin gathering signatures several months ago. But the state attorney general’s office has twice forced them to rewrite their initiatives to pass constitutional muster.
One of the measures amends the Oregon Constitution to allow one commercial casino. The other sites the casino at the greyhound track and directs that 25 percent of the gambling revenues go to the state.
Patty Wentz of Our Oregon, a union-backed group, said the casino measures would likely attract additional petition gatherers from other states because the gambling industry is willing to spend large amounts of money in support.
Roger Gray, the political consultant handling the initiative drive, said he is confident he can gather the needed signatures by the July 7 deadline.
Lake Oswego entrepreneurs Bruce Studer and Matthew Rossman say they have arranged millions of dollars in financing to build the state’s first nontribal casino at the now-closed greyhound park in Wood Village.
But the approval, confirmed by the state attorney general’s office, leaves Rossman and Studer with only a month to collect more than 175,000 signatures needed to get the measures on the November ballot.
The casino backers tried to begin gathering signatures several months ago. But the state attorney general’s office has twice forced them to rewrite their initiatives to pass constitutional muster.
One of the measures amends the Oregon Constitution to allow one commercial casino. The other sites the casino at the greyhound track and directs that 25 percent of the gambling revenues go to the state.
Patty Wentz of Our Oregon, a union-backed group, said the casino measures would likely attract additional petition gatherers from other states because the gambling industry is willing to spend large amounts of money in support.
Roger Gray, the political consultant handling the initiative drive, said he is confident he can gather the needed signatures by the July 7 deadline.
