Casino wins in all wards

Tuesday, Nov. 2 was Election Day for Missouri, and Cape residents were especially eager to get to the polling booths to vote whether or not to allow a casino to be erected downtown.

The casino "would be great for the community as a whole," Trent Summers, spokesman for the 'Yes' for Gaming Committee said.

People in favor of the casino gathered at Buckner Brewing Company to hear the results trickle in a couple wards at a time. Clapping and cheering continued throughout the night as the results from ward after ward were announced showing the acceptance of the casino had outnumbered the denial of it.

In all 15 Cape wards, the casino was approved and the vote ended with 61 percent of the population favoring the betting house.

"It will improve the quality of Cape; it's going in a part of Cape that really needs it [improvement]," Whitney Breitenstein, a former Southeast student said.

Jeremy Walling, an associate professor of political science said the casino was backed by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and the fire and police departments.

"I always thought it would pass," he said. "It was overwhelmingly supported by the important movers and shakers in Cape."

"It [the casino] had a lot of support and they did a really good job campaigning for it to pass," Patrick Vining, a Southeast sophomore majoring in political science, economics and criminal justice said. "It's a development tool by the river."

Walling said the casino would have an immediate economic impact, by providing construction jobs and a lasting impact with approximately 450 new jobs being created, which students could work.

There's "an idea that a casino will bring in organized crime and prostitutes…" Walling said, "but I think they would develop on a moderate scale if they develop at all."

"It's not like Cape is going to turn into Reno, Nev.," he said.

"This will vastly improve the downtown area which will draw in students," said Summers, who also said the casino will offer dual learning opportunities. He also mentioned the integrity and professionalism of the employees at Isle of Capri.

Election of Representatives

Also during Tuesdays election, Wayne Wallingford won the seat for 158th district, which encompasses the university, state representative.

Wallingford said he would be working closely with Dr. Dobbins and wants to be on the Higher Education Committee.

This is a "tight budget year," said Wallingford. He said he is going to be helping the university look at ways they can use their money most efficiently.

"We have some programs that are the best in the state and maybe even the best in the nation," Wallingford said. "We need to keep the tradition of a strong university viable."

Although not a surprise, incumbent Republican Sen. Jo Ann Emerson won the 8th Congressional District, ensuring her seat for the 15th year in the House.

"She's woven into the fabric of the congressional district," said Walling.

He said Emerson has been around the area, has access to resources and is an incumbent and will "work relatively well with the university."

Vining said Republican Roy Blunt was an important win Tuesday, winning with a bigger landslide than first expected.

"There were a couple pick-up opportunities for Democrats and the fact that they couldn't [pick-up] here set the tone for the rest of the night," said Vining.