Newport Canvassers Decertify Local Casino Ballot Question

The Newport Board of Canvassers voted Tuesday to de-certify a local ballot question that would have asked voters if they supported the conversion of Newport Grand from a slot parlor into a full-blown casino.

At the same time, anti-casino opponents gathered outside on the steps of City Hall in protest of the vote, which members of the canvassing authority said was essentially a clerical adjustment to reflect changes to state laws made in the waning hours of the last-ditch legislative push on June 22 as state lawmakers finished up the spring legislative session.

The local question, which would have been Question 8, will no longer appear on the ballot and instead, Newport voters will vote along with the rest of the state on two statewide ballot questions. Question 1 will ask voters for approval for “state operated casino games” exclusively at Newport Grand’s current location and Question 2 would provide for the necessary changes to the state Constitution and require that the location of the casino cannot be changed.

Before their vote, members of the Newport Board of Canvassers said that the votes of Newport residents will still be counted separately from the rest of the state.

“If it doesn’t pass locally, it doesn’t pass,” said board member Richard O’Neill.

Opponents of the casino insist that the state Constitution requires both a local and statewide ballot question.

But board members on Tuesday said the reason there were separate local ballot questions in 2012 was because there were two communities involved — Newport and Lincoln. This time, with just Newport on the ballot, there is no need.

Based on the advise of their solicitor, board members said their hands were essentially tied on the matter and had to uphold the state law, regardless of the questions surrounding it.

The last-minute changes occurred during the early morning hours of an extended legislative House session on June 22 on the original bill sponsored by Newport Reps. Marvin Abney and Peter Martin.

Both told the Newport Daily News that they had no part in the changes.

In May, Former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino and a team of high-profile investors announced they signed a purchase and sales agreement for Newport Grand on condition they get permission to install table games at what they hope to transform into a luxury casino.

Paolino and Peter de Savary along with Paul Roiff, released sketches from Northeast Collaborative Architects that depict a radically different looking structure than the existing Newport Grand, which could be mistaken for a chain furniture store if not for the garish “SLOTS” adorning the front facade.

In 2012, Newport citizens rejected table games by about 600 votes.