A recent survey commissioned by the Alabama Republican House and Senate caucuses, conducted by the Republican polling firm Cygnal, found only 34.1 percent of likely Republican primary voters support giving the Poarch Band of Creek Indians exclusive rights to casino gambling in the state in exchange for $1 billion dollars. Nearly half of Republicans oppose the tribe’s plan, with 40 percent indicating strong opposition.
Nearly 50 percent of females and nearly 60 percent of males said they’re against the tribe’s plan, according to poll numbers. The tribe’s proposal was most widely rejected in areas where the tribe already operates casinos. In the Mobile area, near the tribe’s Wind Creek Atmore casino, more than half of Republicans have unfavorable views of a Poarch Creek monopoly. That’s also true in the Montgomery area, where the tribe operates two casinos. Birmingham and Huntsville Republicans also rejected the tribe’s proposal by nearly 50 percent. In especially bad news for the Poarch Creek tribe, 91 percent of poll respondents said they definitely would be voting in the Republican primary on March 3.
Meanwhile, the tribe has spent untold dollars on a statewide marketing campaign, and received positive coverage on talk radio and internet outlets. The tribe also has contributed to Republican lawmakers. Its numerous lobbyists continue to promote the tribe’s agenda at the capitol, although Governor Kay Ivey has asked legislators to take no action on gaming until her Study Group for Gambling Policy returns its findings.
Ivey recently signed Executive Order 719 to create the group, which will gather information on how expanded gambling, including a lottery, could impact the state. The group consists of 12 individuals, including legal scholars, law enforcement officials, state and local public servants, clergy and business leaders. Its final report to the governor, the Alabama legislature and the public will be due no later than December 31.
The group members are:
- Elizabeth “Liz” Huntley of Birmingham, a litigation attorney at Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC and a child advocate who serves on numerous boards, including the Alabama School Readiness Alliance, the Children’s Village Board of Directors and the Auburn University Board of Trustees.
- Bishop B. Mike Watson, bishop in residence at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham and currently ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops. He has served as a minister in Dothan and Mobile and is a past president of the Mobile County School Board, the largest school system in Alabama.
- Former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, who previously served as chairman of the Montgomery County Commission. He also was president, chief executive officer and co-owner of Blount Strange Automotive group, and director of the Alabama Development Office.
- R. “Rey” Almodóvar of Huntsville, co-founder and chief executive officer of Intuitive Research & Technology Corp.
- Deborah Barnhart of Huntsville, chief executive officer emerita and former CEO and executive director at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. A retired Navy captain, her career spans four decades of service in commercial industry, government, aerospace and defense.
- Walter Bell of Mobile, past chairman of Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers, and former Alabama Commissioner of Insurance. He founded the Mobile County Urban League in 1978 and is a member of the Alabama Academy of Honor for his achievement in civil rights, civic leadership and business.
- Regina Benjamin of Mobile, a physician who served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. She is the former president of the Alabama Medical Association and founder of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic.
- Young Boozer of Montgomery, assistant superintendent of banking at the Alabama State Banking Department and the former treasurer for the state of Alabama. He has extensive experience with numerous banking institutions such as Citibank, Crocker National Bank and Colonial Bank.
- Sam Cochran, sheriff of Mobile County since 2006. Cochran serves on numerous agency boards, including the Penelope House, Drug Education Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Child Advocacy Center.
- Carl Jamison of Tuscaloosa, a third-generation shareholder in JamisonMoneyFarmerPC, one of Alabama’s largest and oldest public accounting firms, primarily focusing on tax planning and audit services to clients in the manufacturing, medical, retail, construction and professional services industries.
- Justice James “Jim” Main of Montgomery, an Alabama Supreme Court justice and previously served as a judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. He also was finance director and policy adviser to Governor Bob Riley and legal adviser to Governor Fob James.
Phillip “Phil” Rawls of Pike Road, a lecturer of journalism for Auburn University who spent more than 35 years working for the Associated Press.
