"Sonoma County residents were cheated out of a chance to voice their opinions on the critical issue of local casino development this week when the Board of Supervisors turned thumbs down on a proposal for a countywide advisory vote on future casino development on the June 3 ballot.

The supervisors’ failure to act on the proposal is unfortunate because an expected strong anti-casino vote would have sent an important message to Governor Schwarzenegger that residents of this county do not want any more casinos. Schwarzenegger has stated that he will take the opinions of local residents into careful consideration when awarding gaming contracts.

Because of the supervisors’ failure to act, the voices of Sonoma County residents have been stifled, and the most promising potential effort to stop a gargantuan casino in Rohnert Park has been lost.

The filing deadline to get a measure on the June 3 ballot is March 7, and the supervisors will not meet again before then. Although the supervisors left open the possibility that they would consider the measure again for the Nov. 4 ballot, Supervisor Mike Kerns of Petaluma said that he isn’t sure if he’ll bring it up again for reconsideration."

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Editorial: Supes blow it on casino measure (The Petaluma Argus-Courier 2/28)