Mallory has defeatedr Wenstrup: 285 of 285 precincts reporting

Mark Mallory 36,444 54.1%

Brad Wenstrup 30,901 45.9%

Issue 3 (Casinos) up big,
8776 of 10317 Precincts Reporting - 85%

Yes 1,395,389 53%
No 1,220,364 47%

Cincinnati Issue 9: Passenger Rail
No 38,132 56.2%
Yes 29,740 43.8%

Cincinnati City Council
285 of 285 precincts reporting

Top 9 vote getters

Roxanne Qualls 41,290 9.1%

Cecil Thomas 33,790 7.5%

Chris Bortz 31,382 6.9%

Jeff Berding 29,086 6.4%

Leslie Ghiz 28,579 6.3%

Chris Monzel 28,416 6.3%

Charlie Winburn 27,542 6.1%

Laure Quinlivan 27,333 6.0%

Laketa Cole 27,332 6.0%

Others

Greg Harris 23,943 5.3%

Bernadette Watson 23,629 5.2%

Kevin Flynn 22,524 5.0%

Amy Murray 22,502 5.0%

Wendell Young 20,929 4.6%

Tony Fischer 20,692 4.6%

Nicholas Hollan 17,163 3.8%

George Zamary 12,299 2.7%

Anitra Brockman 7,589 1.7%

Lamarque Ward 7,336 1.6%

Voters approve casinos
JULIE CARR SMYTH,AP Statehouse Correspondent • November 3, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters hard hit by the economic downturn have opened their state to casino gambling after an expensive campaign promising thousands of jobs.

With 91 percent of precincts reporting unofficial results, Issue 3 passed 53 percent to 47 percent.

It marked a significant victory for Penn National Gaming Inc. and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who spent nearly $35 million promoting four big-city casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. An economic impact study commissioned by the campaign predicted nearly 40,000 temporary and permanent jobs and $4 billion in economic impact, though social costs were not considered.

State Rep. Lou Blessing, a Republican who fought the plan, said he plans to push a ballot issue next May that amends elements of the plan, collects more taxes from the casinos and puts the licenses up for bid.

The casino issue has dominated the campaign season. More was spent in the state on the gambling proposal than during 2008's hotly contested presidential contest.

It is the fifth gambling proposal Ohio voters have seen in 20 years. They roundly rejected the others. Ohio would become the 39th state to legalize casinos if the measure were approved.

The casino campaign has been particularly nasty, fueled by tens of millions in spending by gambling rivals Penn National Gaming and MTR Gaming Inc. and their friends. Ohio is a coveted prize for casino operators, which have achieved legalization in most neighboring states.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland authorized a slots-like lottery game at horse tracks amid this year's difficult budget negotiation. But that's on hold pending a court challenge.

The ballot issue asks voters to amend the Ohio Constitution on such casino issues as the parcels on which casinos could be built; how to distribute a 33 percent casino tax to counties, cities, schools and gambling regulation and addiction services; and the combined $300 million in ongoing state license fees and minimum initial investments required for each facility.

The Ohio Jobs & Growth Committee has centered its campaign in favor of the proposal on a University of Cincinnati study it commissioned, which found casinos would create almost 40,000 full-time and temporary jobs. Labor unions that have opposed gambling issues in the past were convinced by the issue's key backer, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, that the promise of jobs were legitimate and offered key grassroots support.

TruthPAC, which opposes casinos, has fought back aggressively. The group has suggested in ads, flyers, media campaigns and news conferences that the job figures are exaggerated, the backers' business motives are suspect and the proposed tax formula is unfair.

An Ohio Newspaper poll conducted by the University of Cincinnati's Institute for Policy Research found that 59 percent of registered voters supported the casino proposal — Issue 3 on the ballot — leading into the final push to Election Day. Political experts attribute the support to voters' desperate hope for jobs.

Republican U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, a former Ohio governor, made two well-publicized pleas to Ohio voters to reject the issue. Standing aside influential church leaders, Voinovich made biblical references to the evils gambling can bring to families and the economy.

The University of Cincinnati jobs study predicted 39,251 jobs and $4 billion in overall economic impact from the four casino sites. The social costs of expanded gambling were not considered.

Of the total jobs predicted, 15,807 would be permanent, the study said. Of those, 7,500 would come from direct in-state employment at casinos. A quarter of the casino jobs would pay $27,500 a year or more, and 2 percent — 150 jobs — would pay $80,000-a-year executive salaries.

The average casino wage, according to the study, would be $26,300 a year, about $13,700 lower than the most recently calculated state median.

___

Associated Press writer Lisa Cornwell contributed to this report from Cincinnati.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091...eakingnews

Library, Museum Center levies pass

The Enquirer • November 3, 2009

The first-ever local tax for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, a tax for the Museum Center at Union Terminal and support for the developmentally disabled cruised to wins Tuesday.

A levy to support drug and alcohol treatment services was struggling to pass, 53 percent to 47 percent.

With about 78 percent of the 680 precincts reporting, the library levy was ahead, 74 percent to 27 percent. The Museum Center was leading, 68 percent to 32 percent. The levy for the developmentally disabled was ahead, 68 percent to 32 percent.

Libraries

Issue 7 would provide $100 million over five years for operation and maintenance of the 40-branch Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Currently there is no library levy. The system relies primarily on the state for funding. However, that funding has decreased over the years.

The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $29.68 a year. They pay nothing now.

The library system is estimating a $16 million deficit next year because of declining state funding.

Museum Center

Issue 6 would provide $16.2 million over five years to pay for utilities, insurance and building maintenance at Union Terminal in Queensgate.

The Museum Center operates the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Duke Energy Children's Museum and Omnimax Theater inside that building.

The Museum Center's 2004 levy, which expires this year, generated $18.9 million. The Museum Center wanted to seek an even larger levy for a critical construction project, but county commissioners reduced its request. A separate bond issue also expires this year.

The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $4.44 a year. That's $4.65 less than currently.

Family services

Issue 4 would provide $37.3 million over five years for prevention and treatment programs including Drug Court, DUI programs, mental illness court, Off the Streets and Coalition for a Drug Free Cincinnati. Most are run by the Talbert House.

Most of these programs are currently funded by the Drake Center levy, which expires at the end of the year and will not be renewed. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $10.09 a year. That's $10.64 less than the Drake levy.

Developmental disabilities

Issue 5 would provide $388.3 million over five years for the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, which runs work programs, job training, housing, schooling and adult classes for nearly 8,000 people with developmental disabilities.

The agency's current five-year levy, which expires this year, generated $346.8 million. The agency says it needs more money because the demand is expected to nearly double.

The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $104.46 a year. That's $15.14 more than currently.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091...evies+pass

Veterans pay, livestock board approved

The Associated Press • November 3, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters have delivered a victory to large farm operators, approving a new industry-dominated board to oversee livestock care.

Voters also opened their wallets to veterans, easily approving bonuses of up to $1,000 for those who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan or Iraq.

With 45 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday, the livestock issue was leading 65 percent to 35 percent.

The measure was designed to thwart efforts of animal rights groups such as the Humane Society of the United States that are intent on outlawing the close confinement of laying hens, breeding sows and veal calves.

Laws outlawing keeping those animals in cramped cages or crates have passed in seven states.

The ballot issue was viewed as a blueprint for other rural states to avoid such laws being imposed.

Ohio's livestock care board will have 13 members of both parties representing farmers, veterinarians, food safety experts, and consumers. It will have one animal rights advocate.

The Humane Society vowed Tuesday to mount a future Ohio ballot campaign instituting farm animal protections.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday authorizing $200 million in bonds to be issued to pay for the veterans bonuses, which will amount to $100 a month up to $1,000.

With 44 percent of precincts reporting, Issue 1 is passing 73 percent to 27 percent.

Veterans who served outside war zones during those conflicts will get $50 a month up to $500. Family members may also apply for a death benefit of $5,000, which will be based on an application process.

This marks the first time the state will pay bonuses for a war that hasn't ended, but Ohio has paid similar veterans' bonuses throughout history.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091...d+approved

Yah, voting no on Issue 2 was a horrible idea. Folks should watch Food Inc.

It seems that, for all the talk of belt tightening, a whole bunch of tax levies passed state-wide.