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IMMEDIATE RELEASE League of Women Voters of Dane County: 232-9447
Casino backers, foes to appear at public forum A public forum regarding a proposed Ho-Chunk casino on Madison's southeast side will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, at Edgewood College, Anderson Auditorium, beginning at 7 pm. The free event is hosted by Isthmus newspaper, the League of Women Voters of Dane County, and Edgewood's Center for Democracy in Action. "We couldn't help noticing, from statements at other events, letters to the editor and 'Sound Off' calls, that many members of the public want an opportunity to hear from both sides on this issue," says Isthmus News Editor Bill Lueders. "This is their chance." "The League [of Women Voters] has no official position on gambling," says Claire McArdle, president of the Dane County chapter. "We do support the need to have thorough and fair discussion of the issue." The 90-minute forum will be moderated by Mike McKinney of Ch. 15. There will be two representatives from the pro-casino Coalition for Fair Indian Gaming and Revenue Sharing Agreements and two from the opposition group, No Dane Casino. They will be questioned by a panel of three representatives from Isthmus newspaper. The format will consist of introductions and opening remarks followed by questions from the panel. Thirty minutes of the program will be set aside for questions from members of the audience. Representing the Coalition for Fair Indian Gaming and Revenue Sharing Agreements, or "YES on the Agreements," will be Joe Wineke and Wade Blackdeer. Wineke is political director for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 in Madison. A former state senator and state representative in the Wisconsin Legislature, Wineke is working as a consultant to help pass the DeJope Revenue Sharing Agreements. Blackdeer is vice president of the Ho-Chunk Nation and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature. The representatives of No Dane Casino will be Carol Weidel and Marilyn Townsend. Weidel, a state analyst and president of AFT 4999 (which represents research analysts and economists employed by the state of Wisconsin), serves as the treasurer of No Dane Casino. Townsend, a Madison attorney, is an elected trustee with the village of Shorewood Hills. Edgewood's Anderson Auditorium is on the first floor of Predolin Hall, which is the first building on the right (it has a rounded front) as visitors come down Edgewood College Drive from the light on Monroe Street. Brazen Productions will videotape the event for subsequent broadcast on WYOU, Cable Channel 4. Among other possible times, the program will air on Thursday, Feb. 12, 11 am-12:30 pm, Friday, Feb. 13, 9-10:30 pm, and Saturday, Feb. 14, 9-10:30 pm. |