Oxford News

COLUMBUS — Opponents of state Issue 3 — the proposed constitutional amendment to permit 31,500 slot machines at seven Ohio racetracks and two Cleveland locations — unveiled a $1.4 million statewide TV ad campaign on Monday.

Supporters of the plan, the Ohio Learn and Earn Committee, already have been airing TV ads promoting the amendment, which also would provide money for college scholarships for Ohio high school graduates going to school in Ohio.

Campaign finance reports filed last week showed that opponents, "Vote No Casinos," had raised $701,238 through Oct. 18, compared to the $19.5 million taken in by supporters.

David Zanotti, co-chairman of the opposition group, said additional contributions are coming in to pay for the TV ads but that if not enough is raised the campaign would be scaled down.

One of the new ads features silhouettes of nine men — symbolizing the seven racetracks and two Cleveland locations — and asks, "Why should nine special people have their own constitutional amendment?"

The supporters' TV campaign currently features an endorsement of the issue from retired federal Judge Nathaniel Jones. Jones, also former general counsel to the NAACP, was appointed to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati in 1979 and retired from the bench in 2002. He was the first Ohio black appointed to the federal bench.

Both sides expressed optimism.

"We feel very confident .... our message will get heard," Zanotti said.

"I think there's been great momentum. People have been paying attention," said Linda Siekas, spokeswoman for the supporters.