Ruling gives casino backers a chance

Developers challenging state’s signature decision

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Jul 30, 2010, Updated Jul 30, 2010 (7 Reader comments)

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A Marion County Circuit Court Judge on Friday, July 30, found no compelling reason to delay the secretary of state’s ruling on a petition to support a nontribal casino in Wood Village.

He agreed, however, to hear arguments disputing the results on Aug. 20.

That gives Matt Rossman and Bruce Studer of the “Good for Oregon Committee” one more chance to get an initiative to change the state constitution on the fall ballot. They requested an injunction Wednesday, July 28, after the state determined the initiative petition – one of two required for the Wood Village casino – lacked enough valid signatures to send to voters.

The filing claimed the secretary of state’s office erroneously rejected thousands of valid signatures collected in May and June for the constitutional-change initiative required to establish the state’s first taxpaying casino at the former greyhound race track at 223rd Avenue and Halsey Street.

Although Judge Paul Lipscomb denied Rossman and Studer’s request to grant an emergency “restraining order,” or injunction, to block the secretary of state’s certification – which becomes official Sunday, Aug. 1 – Rossman said he is satisfied his committee will have an opportunity to gather evidence to successfully challenge the ruling.

“We asked for time to get information regarding the signature gathering, and the court said we can have that time,” Rossman said after the Friday afternoon hearing. “We are pleased that the court is giving us the ability to get to the truth.”

Logan Egbert, spokesman for Secretary of State Kate Brown’s office, confirmed the circuit court has the ability to overturn the secretary of state’s certification.

“On Aug. 20, the plaintiffs will argue the case on its merits,” Egbert said. “They will ask the judge to determine if the secretary of state’s office was in error by not placing it on the ballot.”

If they’re successful, he said, “the judge would have to order (the initiative) on the ballot.”

Secretary of State Kate Brown announced Tuesday, July 27, that only one of the group’s initiatives – Initiative Petition 77 – contained enough valid signatures of registered voters to qualify for the Nov. 2 ballot. The companion measure, Petition 76, did not have the minimum number of valid signatures.

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