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Eric Hartley: Making a tough choice on slots easy

By ERIC HARTLEY, Staff Writer

Published 11/09/08

As a citizen, Ed Reilly had no trouble deciding how to vote on slot machines. He has moral qualms about gambling and voted against a constitutional amendment to allow slots.

But as a County Council member he's now agonizing over how to vote on a likely bill to make the zoning changes needed for slot machines to be installed in the Laurel area. Does he vote his personal preference or the will of county voters, 59 percent of whom went along with the state on Tuesday in voting yes to slots?

"I am so conflicted I don't know which way to turn," Mr. Reilly, R-Crofton, said Friday. "I'm praying about it."

As Mr. Reilly struggles to decide what's right and two councilmen, Josh Cohen and Jamie Benoit, remain strongly opposed to slots, other council members say the election made their choice much easier.

Ed Middlebrooks, Ron Dillon Jr. and Daryl Jones, D-Severn, said they're more likely to vote yes because voters in the county and in each of their council districts did so.

"I always go by what the people say," said Mr. Middlebrooks, R-Severn. "I believe that's the final word, whether I like it or not."

Mr. Dillon, R-Pasadena, said: "To me, it's democracy, so I think the people's voice is really the heart of the issue. Ultimately, we're elected to be their voice in Annapolis, and sometimes that might be a little different than our beliefs."

But voting based on popular will isn't legislating; it's copping out. Council members should vote yes only if they believe that's the right thing to do. Considering how people in their districts voted is a factor, but should not sway them from an honest conviction in the other direction.

Rightly or not, voting this way makes them look like they're more concerned about future political prospects than voting wisely.

As Mr. Benoit, D-Crownsville, pointed out, elected officials have reams of information most peopledon't get from casually following issues in the newspaper, so they're obligated to do what they think is right - not what's popular.

"I feel like I would not be doing my job if I voted for slots," Mr. Cohen said.

"We are elected to exercise our judgment," Mr. Benoit said.

Councilwoman Cathy Vitale, R-Severna Park, could be a swing vote. She didn't return my call, but has said her vote will depend on the specifics of a zoning bill.

Mr. Benoit said he's not morally opposed to gambling, but believes Laurel Park racetrack, the most-often mentioned location, is the wrong place because there are so many homes nearby. The bill allows slots to be anywhere within two miles of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, so other sites near Arundel Mills mall or BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport are possible.

Mr. Cohen said slots would put strains on county services like police and courts, and he thinks it's wrong to balance the budget "on the backs of working families who can't afford it."

When I asked about their personal votes on the state amendment, Mr. Dillon and Mr. Jones said they voted yes; Mr. Cohen, Mr. Benoit and Mr. Reilly said they voted no; and Mr. Middlebrooks declined to answer.

"This issue is far from done," said Mr. Cohen, D-Annapolis. "It's one thing when they vote in a voting booth. ... It will be a very different dynamic when there are seven council members actually voting to allow slots in Anne Arundel County."

It's unclear who if anyone will introduce a zoning bill. County Executive John Leopold said he does not know whether he will ask for it, but would like to come to an agreement with council members within 90 days. He asked the police and zoning departments to study the impact slots would have.

Mr. Leopold opposed expanded gambling as a state delegate, but said he won't "step on the voice of the people." Almost 59 percent of Maryland voters said yes to 15,000 slot machines.

And the reality is the county's debate could be moot anyway. If those running the state are really determined to push slots through - and it appears they are - the General Assembly could simply pass a law to usurp local zoning control.

Remember, the state is counting on 4,750 machines in Anne Arundel - the most in any single location - to start pouring well over $100 million a year into state coffers starting as early as 2011.

And the state government wheels are already turning, with Gov. Martin O'Malley saying he hopes to appoint members of a slots location commission within weeks.

So if the council votes zoning changes down, Mr. Cohen said, "We will have a fight on our hands."

Or, as Mr. Middlebrooks put it: "I think if we don't come to some resolution with the state, they would stomp on us like a little bug."

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Exactly - 2008-11-10 19:13:58

It was the cowardice of the Maryland Congress that allowed the slots referendum to be placed on the ballot in the first place instead of attaching their names to a bill for them. I hope he votes with his morals, and not by public opinion. We elect these individuals to represent us because they are supposed to have their constituents interests at heart and not because lobbyists successfully threw up some smoke and mirrors and fooled the public into believing that slots are the savior of Maryland's financial woes. Its the same reason we have any elected official and why the will of the mob doesn't make every decision.

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Johnathan Locke - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Good

Slots - 2008-11-10 16:15:06

I hope they stand up to the gambling lobbyists and keep this garbarge out of the county. The voters got bamboozled by the misleading nature of the question and the commercials aired in the weeks prior to the election.

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erran tilley - crofton, MD - Karma: Bad

Slots - 2008-11-10 09:34:04

What is not fair is that people all over Maryland were allowed to decide what happens to my community (Laurel)which is the wrong place for casino central for many reasons.

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Marjorie Schulenburg - Laurel, MD - Karma: Bad

Slots - 2008-11-09 16:49:05

This is a representative democracy. They need to represent the will of the people not their personal opinion. They chose to let the voters decide so now they must go by the final vote.

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Thomas Frankowski - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad