A voter referendum on Peninsula Pacific Entertainment’s proposed $325 million Camellia Bay casino resort in Slidell, Louisiana may not go forward as planned on December 11.
Last month, 22nd Judicial District Judge John Keller ruled that a lawsuit challenging that election was premature and the scheduled referendum should be held. However, Slidell Pastor John Raymond appealed Keller’s decision; he’s one of the two plaintiffs who sued St. Tammany Parish over the referendum’s constitutionality.
In a 4-1 vote, the First Circuit Court of Appeal reversed Keller’s ruling and declared he must hear the case. Keller set two more court dates. The first will be November 30, at which the judge will hear motions for summary judgement. If he denies the request for a summary judgement, a final court date, set for December 3, will determine if the casino proposal will remain on the ballot for the December 11 election. The casino issue will remain on the ballot for early voting which began November 27.
P2E officials said in a statement, “We are excited to get our day in court. St. Tammany Parish deserves the right to vote yes for this economic development opportunity on December 11. We will be leading the charge in court to protect their right. Sadly, those opposed to this project will say anything to keep their neighbors from getting the opportunity to vote yes on Camellia Bay.”
St. Tammany Parish officials also issued a statement, noting, “It is the Parish’s position that the casino proposition should be determined by the voters, and that Louisiana law supports this position. We are asking the Louisiana Supreme Court to review the First Circuit’s decision prior to the election, and are requesting the trial court wait until the Louisiana Supreme Court renders a decision before conducting a trial on the matter.”
Raymond’s lawsuit contends that Act 362, the measure adopted by the Louisiana Legislature to allow the vote, violates the state constitution because it asks voters to approve a casino in a specific location, the undeveloped land at the foot of the Interstate 10 twin spans outside Slidell. The suit claims voters must first vote yes or no on whether to allow casino gambling prior to voting on a location.
Raymond said the appellate court’s ruling is “a huge victory.” He said, “Our point was not to fight the outcome of the election. If the people want the entire parish opening up to gambling from here to the Tchefuncte River, they can. We’re not fighting the outcome but the process that led to an election we felt was unconstitutional.”
Recently, retired New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees endorsed a sports complex that would be built in the vicinity of the casino resort if the referendum passes.
