Another Kansas county lets public have say on casinos

Sedgwick County isn’t going to have a casino advisory election anytime soon, thanks to the persuasive powers of the anti-gambling members of the area legislative delegation. But Geary County just joined Wyandotte and Crawford counties in having formally polled locals on the issue. Tuesday’s advisory vote in Geary County showed 60 percent in favor of a destination casino. The turnout was low — 3,900 of 13,500 registered voters, according to The Daily Union in Junction City. But the results officially put Geary County in the game regarding whether and how state lawmakers expand casino gambling. Too bad Sedgwick County commissioners chose to overlook the potent argument that prompted the Geary County vote — that without an advisory election, Geary County risked being cut out of any casino plan. Then again, maybe that’s what Sedgwick County leaders want, public opinion be damned.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

15 Comments

  1. NoJoCo
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 7:20 am | Permalink

    I would rather not see casinos here in Sedgwick County, but I’m all for an advisory vote to find out what the majority think. I would hope that a higher percentage of voters would turn out than in Geary county.

  2. JUSTA GUY
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 8:42 am | Permalink

    We don’t need casinos in Sedgwick county. We gonna have an arena that will pack people in on a daily basis. Besides Newkirk and Ponca City are only a short drive away or Topeka and Kansas City make for a nice weekend getaway.

  3. Brian
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 9:36 am | Permalink

    Government should never actively involve itself in activities that are dessigned to generate revenue from the vices and weaknesses of its citizens.

  4. Ray Thomas
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 10:31 am | Permalink

    Somehow, I can’t help but wonder how fast an election would be held if it had to do with GAY casinos?

    Terry Fox would go into overdrive. (and lie to cops again to get out of speeding tickets like he has at least one time that is verifiable).

  5. Joe Williams
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 1:25 pm | Permalink

    Just put a Casino in every county. It suppose to be the saviour of our state’s economy!

  6. Joe C
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 3:45 pm | Permalink

    RhondaYou and your associates at the Eagle tell us every election which of our politicians is for and against gaming. Gaming always loses.A separate vote will be different ONLY with an all out campaign of lies from you media types financed with casino money. That has worked everywhere it was tried.For now, fellow antigaming prudes, keep on selecting good leaders.

  7. Galahad
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

    NoJoCo & Brian–

    I agree. Just because people willingly submit to having their pockets picked does not make it right.

    The huge revenue stream that lotteries were supposed to provide never happened either.

    Gov’t already seems like a rip-off to a lot of folks. Let’s not prove their suspicions true.

  8. Jed
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 4:14 pm | Permalink

    NoJo,While casinos aren’t that high on my list of preferred targets, I don’t have much use for them either. Maybe the best way to eliminate them is to allow them statewide. Then after they’ve all gone belly up, we won’t have to worry about the issue arising again.

  9. Brian
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 6:37 pm | Permalink

    is anyone else as puzzled by all of this as I am? 42% of Americans claim to be “born again”; up to 80% claim to be Christians. These numbers are up from the late 60s and early 70s.

    These more religious people claim that the moral fabric of American society is decaying. Yet, shows like Jerry Springer, among others, and evening TV that toes the line of simple decency are extremely popular. Ditto movies in the same vein. Gambling is up. So is the purchase of pornography. Born again Christians continue to have a higher likelihood of getting divorced than do non-Chrsitians.

    If America is in the grips of another “Great Awakening”… If so many Americans identify themselves as more than mildly religious… If the polls show a distaste for modern culture and all of its evils, why are so many “evils” so popular?

  10. Joe C
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 7:27 pm | Permalink

    JebNot a bad idea. Any state business could open one as easy as a bar. No monopolies, no ‘Destination’ Casinos (whatever that is), lots of competition and sin tax the hell out of them. County option? Reasonable police access/observation? State audits? County?Most would disappear quickly. We vote with our bucks.

  11. Joe C
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 7:29 pm | Permalink

    BrianEvils are fun or at least easier than being responsible. It has not been a sin to gamble for years. Bingo at the church, card games with the kids, World Series pools at work, etc. Family neglect is always wrong no matter what the cause – drugs, booze and fatherless kids are most of it. Gambling is just a tiny part of such evils. Sure it leads to losers doing drastic evils when they lose the family rent money or company funds. But what the hell, it is a free country.

  12. Brian
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 8:02 pm | Permalink

    Joe,

    I hear ya. But if you’re going to cry crocodile tears about the country going to hell in a handbasket, you should put up or shut up…OK I’ll give you bingo at church..but gambling in a casino is just a bit different…and what about the other stuff? Who’s watching the porn and the movies and the TV shows? When 80% or more are claiming Christian affiliation and nearly half “fanatical” Christian devotion…that means that maybe 5 people in the country are supporting a $10 billion pornography market, a $50+ billion state lottery gambling enterprise, and all of the other money being spent on morally questionable behavior. Sure seems like there’s enough hypocrisy to go around..So, pass me a lottery ticket, my copy of Hustler, and the phone number of that divorce attorney.

  13. Joe C
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 8:38 pm | Permalink

    BrianThe world has always been going to hell in a handbasket. Christian affiliation? Nope. They preach the right stuff but as soon as one claims to be a Christian and violates some of the teachings I feel that is the height of hypocrisy. If I felt that GOD was watching me AND I would be held accountable I would be too afraid to do any of the crap your standard Christian does.

  14. Jed
    Posted September 25, 2005 at 9:14 pm | Permalink

    This is for anyone worried about the deteriorating state of the world:”Our earth is degenerate in these later days. Bribery and corruption are common. Children no longer obey their parents. Every man wants to write a book. And the end of the world is evidently approaching.”- 4,700 year old Assyrian tablet -Amazing how much this world has gone to hell in a handbasket in the last 4700 years!

  15. Joe Williams
    Posted September 26, 2005 at 6:13 pm | Permalink

    I was only born once!