Portland Casino Backers Face Uphill Battle

As reported by the Oregonian: "With their ballot measures still tied up in the Oregon Supreme Court, backers of a proposed Portland-area casino face long odds of getting on the November ballot. But they are still talking about mounting a furiously fast -- and expensive -- campaign to collect enough signatures to qualify their initiatives by the July 7 deadline.

"Lake Oswego entrepreneurs Bruce Studer and Matthew Rossman say they have arranged millions of dollars in financing from still-secret sources to finance an initiative campaign to build the state's first nontribal casino at the now-closed greyhound park in Wood Village.

"Roger Gray, the political consultant handling the initiative drive, said he is still confident he can gather the needed signatures if the Supreme Court rules in the next few days on a legal challenge to the wording of the ballot title.

"…Several other experts on canvassing said the casino backers may well be able to gather enough signatures in just a few weeks if money is no object. In addition, they said the effort could lure experienced canvassers from other campaigns. That could make it difficult for other initiative drives to collect signatures…"

2006-06-07