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Candidates may take chance on gambling

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Gambling and casinos aren't even a possibility in Ohio.

But when and if they are, they should be considered for this area, according to city commission candidates.

Pervis Brown Jr. is against gambling, but would vote to put it on the ballot so citizens could decide.

"My dad is a minister and I come from a Christian background and gambling is not part of the scenario," Brown said. "Gambling isn't a part of how a Christian community should run."

Craig Stahl said the city shouldn't leave "any stone unturned" when it comes to finding good-paying jobs.

Candidate Scott Hall said the Bible says not to gamble, but he's open to thinking about it for the economic betterment of the community.

Hall said bringing gambling to Sandusky would have to be about good-paying jobs with benefits, not minimum-wage positions.

"It would have to be in the best interests of the citizens," Hall said.

John Jacobs said personally he is fine with gambling.

He thinks it will fuel the economy and create jobs.

Because Cedar Point is already a tourist destination, he thinks the peninsula would be an ideal place to have gambling.

However, "I would put it to the voters," Jacobs said.

Commission hopeful Brian Crandall said gambling can be a part of a vacation experience.

Restaurants, shows and attractions should come with it, he said.

Crandall said people talk about how gambling brings a "bad element" to the city. But Crandall worked as a firefighter and paramedic for 20 years and knows it already exists.

"If people don't think we have an element in our community, we already have it," Crandall said. "All people have to do is look at the police log in the paper."

Commission hopeful Frank Fosco said too many political entities are involved to form an opinion on gambling.

At end of the end of the day, communities don't benefit as much, he said.

"I don't think it is the answer for huge revenues for our area," Fosco said.

Candidate Ed Feick said he's against gambling. He can remember when slot machines were legal in Sandusky, and he would watch people who worked for his family blow their whole check on a Friday night.

"That soured me on gambling," he said.

John Mears said bringing gambling to the area would have to be studied.

Mears said if Sandusky got gambling, it's quite possible other communities would get it too.

"It might be great in the summer, but would it continue other times of the year?" he said.

Dennis Murray Jr. said he's never had an interest in gambling and would rather Ohio not embrace it.

But if it does, Sandusky needs to do all it can to seize on that opportunity, he said.

"If it comes to Ohio, it has to come to Sandusky," Murray said. "Otherwise, we are simply asking other communities to take over the economic base."

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