COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Less than three weeks before Election Day, the two sides in the Issue 3 debate are working to convince voters of the impact casinos would have on Ohio.
The Athletic Club of Columbus hosted a debate between Issue 3 supporters and opponents Wednesday. Among the issues that surfaced in the debate organized by the Columbus Metropolitan Club, whether a Columbus casino would create new jobs or take jobs away from existing bars, restaurants and nightclubs?
Rev. John Edgar of the United Methodist Church argues the casinos would be a net loss for the community.
"This is a myth," Edgar said of the potential for job creation. "These folks want to get rich on gambling. They did not come to Columbus to help us with economic development."
Former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken is urging a yes vote, contending that Issue 3 would bring new visitors to Ohio cities and retain some of the millions of dollars that Ohioans spend in surrounding states. Luken said the opposition is funded largely by other out-of-state casinos that do not want to lose business to Ohio.
"Every television commercial that you see against Issue 3, every one, is paid for by a guy who owns a West Virginia casino," Luken said.
While some gambling opponents say bringing casinos to the state would increase the number of residents with gambling problems, Franklin County Commissioner John O'Grady said he does not oppose gambling, but opposes the Issue 3 plan because he says it is overly generous for the casino developers and would harm the family-friendly environment at the county-owned Huntington Park.
"We're leaving hundreds of millions of dollars on the table and risking the best that Columbus has in the Arena District," O'Grady said.
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