COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The campaign to convince Ohio voters to move the planned Columbus casino from the city's Arena District neighborhood to the west side is underway.
NBC 4 has learned that two Columbus-based consulting firms - Griffin Communications and Strategic Public Partners Group - will lead the Vote Yes on Issue 2 campaign. Fundraising efforts have begun behind the scenes and a formal campaign kick-off is expected mid-March.
Griffin Communications president Lisa Griffin served as the lead organizer of the Stand Up Columbus campaign that first pushed the casino relocation. Casino developer Penn National hired Strategic Public Partners Group last year to work on the Issue 3 campaign that passed in November.
Griffin said the Columbus business community is expected to contribute the bulk of the $4-5 million that organizers hope to raise for the statewide campaign. Penn National has committed financial support to the campaign, but has not determined an exact amount.
That amount represents a fraction of the roughly $50 million that Penn National and Rock Ventures spent to pass Issue 3, but Griffin does not expect a funded opposition campaign as Penn faced in 2009.
A lower turnout is expected for the May primary vote. Griffin said Yes on Issue 2 campaigners will focus on raising awareness of the benefits of the casino relocation. Aside from pointing to casino opposition in the Arena District and casino support on the west side, Griffin said that the campaign will highlight the possibility that Penn National's investment will increase on the west side of Columbus.
Penn National spokesperson Bob Tennenbaum said the company's investment on the west side could approach $400 million if it decides to build a hotel on the former Delphi plant site. The company planned to spend $250 million at the Arena District site.
Griffin said the Yes on Issue 2 campaign will run differently in Central Ohio, where voters are more likely to have followed the push to move the casino. Organizers are reaching out to community leaders in cities around Ohio to help spread awareness.
Meanwhile, Franklin Township Board of Trustees Chairman Tim Guyton told NBC 4 that tax revenue-sharing negotiations with the City of Columbus are going well. After two earlier meetings to discuss the annexation of the former Delphi plant site, a third meeting is scheduled for Thursday.The two sides hope to reach an agreement for tax revenue-sharing by the end of March.
Dan Williamson, spokesperson for Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, said only that negotiations with Franklin Township are continuing.
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