Casino news source: Gulf Live - http://www.gulflive.com
Windsor is against casino here
Saturday, June 09, 2007
By SARA FRYE The Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS -- John Windsor, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state, visited the site of the proposed Choctaw casino in Jackson County on Friday to declare his opposition to the project.
"The U.S. Department of Interior has said that the opinions of state and local officials will have a major impact on whether to allow this casino," said Windsor. "I want voters to know that, if elected, I oppose this casino."
Windsor met with reporters in front of First American Printing to proclaim his dissatisfaction over the proposed casino. The Mississippi Band of the Choctaws, which owns the printing company, has proposed a casino near the site at Miss. 57 and Interstate 10.
The Jackson County Board of Supervisors recently voted to hold a non-binding referendum on Nov. 8 to ask citizens if they are for or against gaming on land owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaws.
Windsor is one of seven candidates for Mississippi secretary of state. Other Democratic candidates are Jabari Toins and Robert Smith. Republican candidates are Delbert Hosemann, Gene Sills, Jeffrey Rupp and Mike Lott.
The office of secretary of state is in charge of business filings, securities regulation, stewardship of public lands, campaign finance disclosures and lobbying regulation.
"As a candidate for secretary of state, I am particularly concerned about the negative economic impact on Tidelands funds, harm to the local environment, and the message of unfairness that it sends to businesses who choose to play by the rules," said Windsor.
The secretary grants Public Trust Tideland leases for the State of Mississippi. Casinos previously paid for the water and tidelands on which the floating casinos were located, said Windsor, and now they pay a sliding scale assessment based on square footage.
If built and operated in conformance with Mississippi law, the proposed casino would have to pay $750,000 to the Tidelands Trust, said Windsor.
"The mere specter of this untaxed, inland casino so nearby has already caused a number of major projects on the Gulf Coast to be put on hold," said Windsor.
Carl King, spokesman for Jackson County United for Families, said any candidate who is for the casino, regardless of party, will not get his vote.
"We need no more glamour, glitzy and noisy things to take money away from the people," said King.
King and members of the Jackson County United for Families group have met across the highway from the proposed casino site to pray that it does not get built.
"I'm not concerned with whether they are taxed or not taxed," said King. "The disruption, damage gambling causes in a family is not reconciled by any amount of money brought in by a casino."
Charles Ross , a candidate for lieutenant governor, said he supports casinos moving inland in Biloxi and Gulfport, but does not support the Choctaw project.
"My personal opinion is we do not need to expand gaming to other counties," said Ross. "If expanded, they should have to abide by the same rules of the other counties."
Representatives for the Mississippi Band of Choctaws were not available to comment on the issue.
Reporter Sara Frye can be reached at sfrye@themississippipress.com or (228) 934-1435.
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