Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley has stood firm in his belief that the people of Alabama are in favor of electronic bingo. At the very least, he believed people would favor a statewide vote on the issue.
So, five months ago, he commissioned Southeast Research, Inc. of Montgomery to prove him right – or wrong. His intent, all along, he said, was to take that data to area legislators as the indisputable voice of the people.
The survey was conducted on March 24 with 200 registered voters all located in Alabama Senate District 31 which is represented by Sen. Jimmy Holley. The district includes all of Coffee and Covington counties, the southern portion of Dale and about half of the City of Dothan in northern Houston County.
Respondents to the survey, which has a 7 percent plus or minus margin of error, overwhelmingly said they support the Country Crossing development, favor a vote on whether or not the development should have the right to offer bingo, and believe the state should limit, regulate and tax electronic bingo in Alabama.
The survey consisted of 10 concise questions. Among them:
—Do you believe the Country Crossing project is important or not important for your area?
Results: 69.5 percent important; 21 percent not important; 9.5 percent unsure.
—Currently electronic bingo is operation in many locations in Alabama. Would you support or oppose the people having the right to vote on whether or not the Country Crossing development should have the right to offer electronic bingo like other destination points in Alabama?
Results: 76.5 percent support; 16 percent oppose; 7.5 percent unsure.
—Do you think Alabama should limit, regulate and tax electronic bingo operating in Alabama to help support programs and services important to Alabamians?
Results: 79 percent yes; 12 percent no; 9 percent not sure.
Though he has quoted statistics from the survey publicly, Gilley never intended to release the survey or use it for anything other than to convince lawmakers to let the people vote. He distributed it to area lawmakers in the early spring during the regular legislative session, which ended in mid-May.
One week ago, Gilley released the survey exclusively to the Dothan Eagle, saying he was attempting to avoid political discussions about the project, but added that the people will indeed be given the opportunity to vote – on their lawmakers.
“It’s election time and our politicians need to understand, it is time to take heed and listen to the people who put them in office. They need to quit listening to special interest and politicians,” Gilley said.
Gilley said everyone was receptive to the data, as collected and presented by Dr. Jerry Ingram’s firm. Everyone, he said, except for Sen. Holley.
“He refused to acknowledge it,” Gilley said. “Everybody else was receptive to listening to their constituents. He flat out declared he would vote no on a bill, which would give the people the opportunity to vote. And he told me, point blank, that he is 100 percent opposed to it, regardless of what any poll says.”
Gilley said Holley refused to accept the poll directly from him, so Gilley had a contributor to Holley’s campaign deliver the document. A telephone message left at Holley’s home Sunday night was not returned by press time.
As it turns out, the Sweet Home Alabama bill, which would allow a statewide referendum to limit, tax and regulate electronic bingo in seven counties, died in the early legislative session, but it is expected to resurface in early 2010.
“Statewide polls show people support it. Look at our rising unemployment rates. This state is feeling the rippling effect in the downturn of the auto industry ... which helped empty our coffers to pay those automakers to come over here. How can you deny our project, where we are not asking for a dime.”
Survey results were broken down by gender, party affiliation, race, county, and whether respondents were regular church-goers.
Country Crossing is slated to open December 1. On that day, Houston County will receive an estimated prorated $146,666 payment for bingo stamps to operate 1,700 machines. On January 1, 2010, the county will receive the full year’s payment of $1.7 million –- that’s $1,000 per machine.
So, five months ago, he commissioned Southeast Research, Inc. of Montgomery to prove him right – or wrong. His intent, all along, he said, was to take that data to area legislators as the indisputable voice of the people.
The survey was conducted on March 24 with 200 registered voters all located in Alabama Senate District 31 which is represented by Sen. Jimmy Holley. The district includes all of Coffee and Covington counties, the southern portion of Dale and about half of the City of Dothan in northern Houston County.
Respondents to the survey, which has a 7 percent plus or minus margin of error, overwhelmingly said they support the Country Crossing development, favor a vote on whether or not the development should have the right to offer bingo, and believe the state should limit, regulate and tax electronic bingo in Alabama.
The survey consisted of 10 concise questions. Among them:
—Do you believe the Country Crossing project is important or not important for your area?
Results: 69.5 percent important; 21 percent not important; 9.5 percent unsure.
—Currently electronic bingo is operation in many locations in Alabama. Would you support or oppose the people having the right to vote on whether or not the Country Crossing development should have the right to offer electronic bingo like other destination points in Alabama?
Results: 76.5 percent support; 16 percent oppose; 7.5 percent unsure.
—Do you think Alabama should limit, regulate and tax electronic bingo operating in Alabama to help support programs and services important to Alabamians?
Results: 79 percent yes; 12 percent no; 9 percent not sure.
Though he has quoted statistics from the survey publicly, Gilley never intended to release the survey or use it for anything other than to convince lawmakers to let the people vote. He distributed it to area lawmakers in the early spring during the regular legislative session, which ended in mid-May.
One week ago, Gilley released the survey exclusively to the Dothan Eagle, saying he was attempting to avoid political discussions about the project, but added that the people will indeed be given the opportunity to vote – on their lawmakers.
“It’s election time and our politicians need to understand, it is time to take heed and listen to the people who put them in office. They need to quit listening to special interest and politicians,” Gilley said.
Gilley said everyone was receptive to the data, as collected and presented by Dr. Jerry Ingram’s firm. Everyone, he said, except for Sen. Holley.
“He refused to acknowledge it,” Gilley said. “Everybody else was receptive to listening to their constituents. He flat out declared he would vote no on a bill, which would give the people the opportunity to vote. And he told me, point blank, that he is 100 percent opposed to it, regardless of what any poll says.”
Gilley said Holley refused to accept the poll directly from him, so Gilley had a contributor to Holley’s campaign deliver the document. A telephone message left at Holley’s home Sunday night was not returned by press time.
As it turns out, the Sweet Home Alabama bill, which would allow a statewide referendum to limit, tax and regulate electronic bingo in seven counties, died in the early legislative session, but it is expected to resurface in early 2010.
“Statewide polls show people support it. Look at our rising unemployment rates. This state is feeling the rippling effect in the downturn of the auto industry ... which helped empty our coffers to pay those automakers to come over here. How can you deny our project, where we are not asking for a dime.”
Survey results were broken down by gender, party affiliation, race, county, and whether respondents were regular church-goers.
Country Crossing is slated to open December 1. On that day, Houston County will receive an estimated prorated $146,666 payment for bingo stamps to operate 1,700 machines. On January 1, 2010, the county will receive the full year’s payment of $1.7 million –- that’s $1,000 per machine.
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