Gambling opponents failed in their attempt Thursday to brand campaign advertising in favor of slot machines
as false and misleading because of its claims about more money for education and new jobs.
Broward County's Fair Campaign Practices Committee ruled that the gambling industry has not violated its
ethical guidelines for electioneering. It was a major setback for opponents who have charged for weeks that
the ad campaign was deceiving voters in the run-up to Tuesday's referendums in Broward and Miami-Dade
counties.
"It's unfortunate that they keep getting publicity for all these stunts and attacks," said Stacey Brenan,
spokeswoman for the pro-slot Yes for Better Schools and Jobs. "They are the ones attempting to mislead the
voters about the referendum. It's a sign of desperation."
In his complaint to the Fair Campaign Practices Committee, anti-slots activist Dan Lewis argued the major
campaign themes of the gambling industry are baseless. He said they could not justify their claims that 18,000
new jobs would be created and as much as $111 million would be directed to public education in South Florida.
"It's an issue of guarantee versus speculation," Lewis said. "These are things that might happen or could
happen depending on what the Legislature does. All their promises and guarantees can fall short."
But the Fair Campaign Practices Committee was swayed by documentation and testimony from the gambling
industry.
Dan Adkins, vice president of the Hollywood Greyhound Track, said any tax money must go to supplement
public education under the terms of a state constitutional amendment approved last November.
While he acknowledged that legislators may write any rules they want, he noted the gambling industry has a
written agreement with the state School Boards Association promising 30 percent of gross revenue from the
machines will go to public education. That would mean $111 million for the two South Florida counties, he
said.
Adkins and his lawyers said the job numbers were based on experiences with gambling elsewhere in the
country and an analysis done by their economists.
Although committee members refused to endorse the specific numbers in the ads, they said they would be
hard-pressed to condemn the advertising, given the wording in the constitutional amendment and the contract
with the school board group.
"The word `guarantee' is a very powerful word, but the evidence presented was that there is a Plan B for
funding," said Roy Rogers, a local businessman who chairs the watchdog group. "Because of that, this didn't
rise to the level we set for finding a violation."
The ruling by the volunteer watchdog group came as both sides stepped up efforts to sway voters on whether
to allow slot machines to be installed at seven racetracks and jai-alai frontons in Broward and Miami-Dade.
Gov. Jeb Bush began three days of campaigning as a guest on a Miami radio station and highlighted his
opposition by declaring next week to be Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
Bush, speaking on Spanish-language Radio Mambi, said he wanted Hispanics to know "These places with the
slots aren't going to attract some James Bond-like wealthy character. ... Instead, it will draw working-class
people."
State Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, said, "All I know is that right now zero dollars stay in South Florida,
under the current gaming monopoly run by the Indian Tribes. ... So whatever money this brings in to South
Florida is already more than what is currently staying here."
The measure is also supported by unions with large Hispanic memberships such as the Service Employees
International Union, or SEIU, which has about 12,000 members in Florida. "This won't necessity directly help
our members, but it will help the communities where our members live," said Monica Russo, president of
SEIU 1199.
At a Fort Lauderdale news conference, a group of black elected officials lashed out at the governor.
Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion said, "Our governor should be traveling the state for
additional dollars for education instead of opposing a way to raise more dollars for schools."
Eggelletion and Commissioners Robert Chunn of Dania Beach and Joe Gibbons of Hallandale Beach said
passage of the slot machine referendum would not only bring needed money for schools, but would also bring
needed jobs to the minority communities they represent.
"Passage is really important to the minority community," Gibbons said. "We need those jobs."
At a separate rally of religious leaders in Hollywood, Pastor Bob Dyshuk, of First Baptist Church of
Hallandale, said, "I don't believe it's the right thing for Broward County. ... I have people coming in for
counseling for gambling. I've seen wrecked lives."
Staff Writer Sandra Hernandez contributed to this report.
Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511.