Hey… speaking of David Irons and quid pro quos, one has to wonder what Irons has promised the local gambling industry in exchange for over $10,000 of contributions towards his futile campaign for King County executive?
Casino Caribbean $4,050.00 Roman Casino $1,350.00 Iron Horse Casino $1,000.00 Tim Iszley $675.00 Vito Checci $500.00 Great American Gaming $500.00 Steve Michels $500.00 Cascade Lanes Casino $250.00 Roxbury Lanes $500.00 Pinnacle Gaming $250.00 Magic Lanes $500.00
Iron’s biggest contributor is Casino Caribbean and its owner, Michael Marquess of Yakima, who has been stubbornly pushing to build a new casino in the Kingsgate neighborhood, against the strong objections of the surrounding communities.
Hmm. I’m betting the 2000 concerned citizens who signed a petition opposing the casino might be interested in Irons’ position on building an 11,000 square foot casino and lounge in a residential neighborhood, within 500 feet of a day care facility and 700 feet of a community swimming pool. Surely, Irons must have a position on this controversy; the Kingsgate Neighborhood Association has been very aggressive in getting their concerns before elected officials. Indeed, Irons’ King County Council colleague, Kathy Lambert, vocally opposes granting a liquor license to the proposed casino.
But money speaks louder than words, so barring a clear public statement to the contrary, it seems Irons has already privately assured his gambling industry patrons his unswerving support for expanding “community based gaming.” How else can you explain the largesse of companies like Casino Caribbean and the US subsidiary of the loan-sharking, drug-dealing, whore-mongering Great Canadian Gaming Corporation?