Non-tribal casino initiative on hold

Citing timing and two pending tribal casino proposals, two Lake Oswego businessmen said they will not pursue signature gathering to place initiatives for a commercial casino in Wood Village on the November ballot.

Investment adviser Bruce Studer and attorney Matthew Rossman had planned to seek the more than 100,000 signatures needed to put a ballot measure before state voters to establish Oregon's first non-tribal private casino/entertainment center at the former greyhound race track in Wood Village. The two cleared legal appeals earlier this year, but said last week they would wait until 2010, so that the fate of two controversial tribal casino proposals is decided.

The Warm Springs tribe hopes to develop a casino at Cascade Locks, and the Cowlitz tribe wants to establish another one near Interstate 5 in La Center, Wash. The Lake Oswego businessmen said the economy was not an issue in their decision to hold back.

"Our campaign team believes that the proper timing to pursue approval of our commercial, taxpaying casino with benefits for all Oregonians should commence once Oregonians know the outcome of the La Center and gorge casinos," Studer said in a press release.

Mayors of east county cities -- with the exception of Wood Village's Dave Fuller -- opposed the casino idea.

"I'm very pleased that this is not going to be on the ballot," Fairview Mayor Mike Weatherby, the most vocal critic, said. "I would hope this would be the end of it, but my fear is that this is just a delay for two years."

Weatherby said there would be minimal benefit to his city, but the negative impact of a casino could be major: more social problems, more traffic, need for more police protection, and increased noise and light pollution, to name a few.

Fuller, who hoped the casino would help revitalize Wood Village, was disappointed.

"It certainly could have been a benefit for all of our cities," he said. "I hope they come back with another proposal. Although the next general election is in 2010, that means the economic benefits wouldn't come to us until 2012."