TALLAHASSEE - The gloves are coming off in the fight over slot machines, with Gov. Jeb Bush saying Tuesday he intends to offer some high-profile opposition as a pair of referendums approach in South Florida.
Voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will vote Tuesday on whether to allow slot machines in existing parimutuel facilities in those counties. In November, voters statewide authorized the local elections.
The implications could reach beyond South Florida jai-alai frontons and horse and dog tracks. Approval could open the door to higher-level gambling at seven casinos run by Florida Indian tribes that offer bingo-style electronic machines. The tribes insist that what is appropriate for some state gaming facilities is appropriate for all.
``I think it'll be a big surprise to people in Tampa, Florida, that passage of an initiative in Broward County will yield this result - that they'll have one- armed bandits,'' Bush said. He was referring to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Interstate 4 and Orient Road.
``I'm going to get a little more involved than just vote,'' Bush said. ``I think we can organize a little guerrilla effort to at least bring up people's level of understanding.''
Paul Seago, executive director of No Casinos, the Orlando-based opposition group, hopes to book the governor on television and radio shows, news conferences and South Florida speeches.
``Having him weigh in on this issue is very important; when the governor speaks, people listen,'' Seago said.
Jim Horne, a spokesman for the pro-casino group Yes for Better Schools and Jobs, said he respects the governor for sticking to his anti-gambling stance.
However, ``the genie's out of the bottle,'' said Horne, the former state education commissioner. ``We have it in every form it exists in Florida, and in most cases, it's in an unregulated and unlicensed format.''
Miami-Dade and Broward voters have backed expanded gambling in the past. Opponents had run a low-key campaign, but this week, Bush came out swinging. At a news conference Monday, the governor claimed that revenue estimates by pro-gambling forces were overstated.
``James Bond and his buddies aren't going to show up at the dog track and the jai alai track,'' Bush said.