BY SARAH ROSS

SALEM- Secretary of State Kate Brown’s Election Division announced Tuesday that one initiative petition for allowing private casinos has failed to gain enough signatures, yet its sister petition to authorize a Multnomah County casino succeeded and will be on the November 2 ballot.

Petition 77 required 82,769 signatures to be approved for the ballot, while Petition 76 required 110,358. Brown’s office was able to verify 82,865 signatures for the first measure, putting it over the threshold, but 76 failed to meet its required quota with just 104,629.

Good for Oregon, the group promoting the two measures, predicted on their website that over 5,000 new jobs and $74 million each year for schools could be provided by the $9 million in new annual income taxes and $20 million in other taxes a new casino in Multnomah County could generate.

Matt Rossman, sponsor of the petition initiative, said that after consulting their signature gathering firm, Democracy Resources, he and his cosponsor Bruce Studer feel that the Secretary of State’s office made a mistake and that they are exploring their options.

“At this point, I think it’s safe to say that we will be filing a lawsuit to challenge the decision which will more than likely be filed tomorrow,” said Rossman.

Rossman added that he and Studer were pleased that 77 did make it on the ballot; but in order for the Multnomah County Casino project to go forward, they need to pass 76 as well. He also seemed optimistic about getting the measure on Novermber’s ballot.

“We believe in the initiative process and that Oregonians’ rights should be protected, and we know from our signature gathering efforts that thousands of Oregonians have told us that they want jobs. They want these benefits,” said Rossman. “So we’re motivated to get things moving forward.”

In an earlier interview with The Oregon Politico, spokesman for the Secretary of State Don Hamilton said lawsuits are not uncommon during the petition season, as legal action is a tool petitioners have in protesting decisions.