Casino backers collect signatures

Developers of a proposed casino resort in Clinton County dispatched more than 1,100 paid petition-gatherers today to get voters' signatures outside polling places across the state for a Nov. 4 ballot issue.

The $600 million casino is proposed at State Route 73 near Interstate 71 outside Wilmington.

MyOhioNow.com must submit 402,275 valid signatures from registered voters in all 88 counties and file the constitutional initiative by Aug. 6 to get on the fall ballot.

"It was important that we assemble a large enough team statewide to take full advantage of this historic primary,'' said Rick Lertzman of MyOhioNow. "Even with the bad weather, we are receiving great support statewide."

Dr. Bradford Pressman, the group's co-founder, said today's record turnout -- projected at about 4 million Ohio voters -- will enable MyOhioNow to finish their petition drive "far ahead of schedule. Although we have to submit the signatures by August, we will be finished with the signature drive far earlier."

The full text of the initiative and more information about the project is available here: