Rhode Island: Candidates debate gambling

State Senators and Challengers Argue Newport County Economy
At CCRI Wednesday night, at a forum sponsored by Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling, six Newport County State Senate candidates addressed issues related to the local economy.


CASINO GAMBLING
The organization behind the forum, Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling, was organized in 1977 to fight the establishment of casino gambling in Newport and today the group opposes the expansion of casino gambling in Rhode Island. So it came as little surprise that topping the list of 10 questions for the night was the issue of gambling, and where candidates stand as it relates to supporting the state and local economies.

Most candidates acknowledged a sort of uneasy alliance between the state and the gaming industry, with it ranking fourth in the state as a revenue generator. The three Democratic incumbents said they supported the issue going before voters to decide, but opinions varied on further expansion. The three Republican opponents differed on their stances and nearly all candidates seemed to agree that they wanted to see further economic development continued throughout the state so that the economy would no longer be dependent on casino gambling, lottery or gaming revenues.

"If I had my druthers I'd limit it to Twin Rivers [in Lincoln]," said District 10 Senator Felag. "They seem to want it and Newport people don't seem to want it."

Butterworth, his opponent, said she is "totally opposed to casino gambling" and that the transition from Jai Alai gaming to modern-day casino gambling was unfairly settled years ago by the courts.

District 11 three-time challenger Ottiano agreed that further economic development was needed to make the state less dependent on gaming revenue and said he foresaw a "collision course" between what the state and Newport voters want. "The people [of Newport] should have control over what happens to their town," he said.

Cook, the District 13 challenger, said he supports the current gaming industry, given its current support of the economy. "There's no new industry banging on the doors to come here. We need to preserve that revenue and I'd support a way of doing that."