San Gabriel Valley : Group Seeks to Block Vote on Card Clubs

Hoping to force would-be owners of the Pomona Park Casino to fold, a residents group is asking the state Court of Appeal to stop a Nov. 7 referendum on whether to allow the card club in the community.

The Committee Against Casinos filed suit Wednesday, saying a 1965 state law does not allow two special elections on the same issue within a year. Pomona voters rejected a ballot initiative in April that would have allowed two card clubs in the city.

“The legislative record shows it was the lawmakers’ intent to prevent two elections on the same subject in a single year,” said Ron Vera, the committee’s attorney.

Pomona Mayor Eddie Cortez, who voted last month to put the issue on the ballot, disagreed. “Quite clearly last April was a regular council election with seats up for grabs,” he said. “It’s not even the same exact issue.”