Casino issue OK’d in most areas

In Butler County, the controversial issue failed only in the town of Oxford.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 11:30 PM Friday, November 6, 2009

HAMILTON — Residents in affluent suburbs, inner cities and rural lanes across Butler County agreed Tuesday, Nov. 3, to allow casino gambling in Ohio’s major cities.

It was the college town that objected.

An analysis of the final, unofficial results of Tuesday’s election from the Butler County Board of Elections shows that 1,274 Oxford voters opposed Issue 3, while 939 supported it.

“I really don’t have an explanation for it,” said Oxford Councilman Ken Bogard, who said he wasn’t aware of any concerted local opposition to the issue.

Maybe voters there feared the toll legalized gambling could have on families, he said. Maybe they figured a casino in Cincinnati was too far away to visit anyway.

“I think it goes back to voting their conscience and what they feel about it,” he said.

Elsewhere in the county, support for Issue 3 — which passed statewide, paving the way for Las Vegas-style casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo — was consistently strong.

It did narrowly pass in rural Oxford Twp, with 50.8 percent of the vote, but support was strongest in equally rural Ross Twp., with 67.7 percent supporting it.

It passed countywide with 61.7 percent of the vote — roughly the same percentage that voted against it in Oxford.

In Hamilton, roughly 64.5 percent of voters favored casinos, and roughly 64.4 percent in Middletown.

The other two state issues on the ballot Tuesday passed by even larger margins locally.

Issue 1 — which will increase benefits for veterans of the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars — passed with roughly 72.7 percent locally. It passed in every precinct across the county.

Issue 2, which created a statewide livestock care standards board, passed by 69.5 percent of the local vote. Three small precincts — again in Oxford — voted against the measure, but it overwhelmingly passed citywide and elsewhere.

Local support for casino gambling

City Yes No

Hamilton 64.5 percent 35.5 percent

Middletown 64.4 percent 35.6 percent

Fairfield 63.4 percent 36.6 percent

Oxford 38.6 percent 61.4 percent

Liberty Twp. 59.4 percent 40.6 percent

West Chester Twp. 60.8 percent 39.2 percent

Countywide 61.7 percent 38.3 percent

Source: Analysis of final, unofficial results from the Butler County Board of Elections

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All I know is that if/when I -don't- see the unbelievable,heart-stopping, and skyrocketing crime rates and I -don't- see EVERY job given to out of state workers, which was the basis of the opponents of the bill, I will know to never vote for a Republican again and that the Republican opponents are once and for all a bunch of liars that use irrational scare tactics to try and keep America in check.

George W
5:56 AM, 11/8/2009

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College kids and Professors telling people how to vote? Well read the facts and understand. If you add Oxford population and Miami's student population you get a lot more than the total of people who voted concerning the issue.

So SHOVE IT

DumbDumbDumb
3:50 PM, 11/7/2009

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Once again the college kids and professors tried to tell others how to do their jobs and what they should spend money on. Going to Indiana isn't considered far, but Cincinnati is? Going to Indiana gambling isn't a family problem but gambling in Cincinnati is?
And the farm issue- what do a bunch of college kids or professors know about farming? Or the issues confronting farmers?
College kids should have to vote absentee from their homes, not in a town they only live in during the school yr.

Anonymous Please
1:30 PM, 11/7/2009

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