Louisiana: Supreme Court decides Slidell casino ballot can go ahead

Louisiana voters in St. Tammany Parish will vote on casino proposals on December 11.

US.- On December 11, voters in Louisiana’s St Tammany Parish will decide whether to approve the proposed $325m Camellia Bay Resort casino complex after the state Supreme Court reversed an appeal court decision that challenged the vote.

The Supreme Court ruled that any legal issues regarding the constitutionality of the vote would be settled after the election. The ruling, which came two days after early voting started, upholds Judge John Keller’s October 22 Judicial Court ruling on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality and validity of the election, filed by Charles Branton from Covington and Slidell pastor John Raymond.

Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) seeks to build Camellia Bay at the Lakeshore Marina on the eastern edge of Lake Pontchartrain. Although the Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved the relocation of P2E’s Diamond Jacks casino from Bossier City to the site in Slidell, in St. Tammany Parish, voters will have the last word in December.

Branton, the attorney who filed the suit challenging the vote said he was “beyond disappointed” with the Supreme Court’s decision. He said: “I don’t know why they’re ducking the issue. We’re on hold until Dec. 11 and hopefully then the voters say ‘no,’”

Jason Harbison, a spokesperson for P2E, said the company was “excited the Supreme Court decided to allow St. Tammany residents to vote.”

Mike Lorino, chairman of the St. Tammany Parish Council, said: “Whether you are opposed or support the gaming proposition, the only way to ensure that the result of this election truly reflects the voices of our parish residents is to go to the polls.”

See also: St Tammany Casino would have “moderately positive” regional impact