Democrats voice for expanded gambling | IXGAMES

All six Democratic candidates for governor at an educators’ forum yesterday said they favor giving Kentuckians the right to vote on whether to change the state Constitution to allow expanded gambling in the state. Each also said he would personally vote for the expansion.It was the first time House Speaker Jody Richards of Bowling Green indicated he would vote for expanded gambling if the issue got on the ballot. Their same position on expanded gambling may diffuse the issue as a source of controversy in the Democratic primary for governor. The only Democratic gubernatorial candidate not at the Kentucky School Boards Association forum was Otis Hensley, a Harlan County demolition contractor who is running a limited campaign. He said last night he is opposed to any more gambling because it is addictive and harmful. “We live in Kentucky, not Vegas,” Hensley said. Earlier in the day, all seven Democratic candidates were at party headquarters in Frankfort to tell 112 county chairs why they should be Kentucky’s next governor. Each slammed Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who won the 2003 governor’s race and is seeking re-election this year with GOP opposition from former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup of Louisville and Paducah businessman Billy Harper, who was also at the educators’ forum last night. Richards said Fletcher is “a disgrace to this state,” and Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford apologized to the party for endorsing Fletcher after dropping out of the 2003 Democratic gubernatorial primary. The question of expanded gambling came up at the educators’ forum when host Mark Hebert, a reporter for WHAS-TV in Louisville, asked the candidates present to raise their hands if they favor putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow more gambling in Kentucky. All six Democrats raised their hands. Harper did not. He had said earlier the state budget should not depend on “the quicksand of gambling.” Fletcher and Northup have said they would not push for or against more gambling. Hebert asked the candidates to raise their hands if they would vote for expanded gambling if it were on a statewide ballot. Again, all six Democrats raised their hands. Harper did not. Earlier this year, Richards said he would favor letting Kentuckians vote on the issue but declined to say whether he would vote on expanded gambling if it got on the ballot. Asked yesterday why he said he would vote for expanded gambling, Richards said, “Four years ago, I said I would favor putting it on the ballot.” He added: “I would vote for it. It’s a tough issue but I have seen that the people want, every poll I’ve seen, people say they want to vote on it.” Two of the Democratic candidates at the forum had different opinions on who first was for expanded gambling. Steve Beshear, a Lexington lawyer who was lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1987, said he announced his support for the issue in January. Former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry said he was “mildly chastised” during the administration of Gov. Paul Patton for speaking in favor of the issue. Also backing the issue yesterday at the forum were Lunsford, state Treasurer Jonathan Miller and Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith. Lunsford said he was not sure expanded gambling ever would pass, and Galbraith said candidates are promising too much from possible revenue from gambling and “should have a Plan B” if it does not pass.