KCRA3

ELK GROVE, Calif. (KCRA) — 

Some people who signed a petition demanding a public vote on a controversial casino now want their names off the list

FAST FACTS

-- Elk Grove city clerk's office scanning 14,800 signatures
-- Casino supporters file claim with FPPC
-- Law firm won't reveal client seeking special election

Faye Amos, an Elk Grove resident, wants her name taken off the list.

"She was quite pushy, and I should have read it but I didn't," Amos told KCRA 3 about the petition gatherer who signed her up.

The Elk Grove city clerk’s office said that up to 600 other people also want their names deleted from the petition after raising concerns about being deceived. 

“I told them I felt they were very dishonest and not telling the full story to the people that they asked to sign,” Amos said. 

As KCRA 3 reported last Thursday, the people gathering names opposing the planned casino wouldn’t reveal who they were working for. 

On Tuesday, KCRA 3 learned it was the Sacramento law firm of Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk that handed in six boxes filled with signatures to the clerk in Elk Grove. The firm would not reveal its client to KCRA 3.

While the money source behind the petitions is still a mystery, the petition needs just 8,900 valid signatures to trigger a potential special election. If so, it would cost $5 to $10 per registered voter, according to Elk Grove City Clerk Jason Lindgren.

“We're at 90,000 registered voters in the city of Elk Grove,” he said. “So we start getting up to a cost of half a million dollars to potentially up to a million dollars.” 

Supporters of the Wilton Rancheria Resort and Casino said it would generate thousands of jobs. 

Some Elk Grove residents, with no connection to the mysterious petition backers, are clamoring for a public vote. 

“Something this large, we need an opportunity to understand how that is going to affect our community,” Elk Grove resident Chris Clark said. “And a special election gives us the opportunity.” 

Casino supporters have filed a formal complaint with California’s political watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission.

 

Elk Grove City Clerk Lindgren said a special election would most likely take place in June 2017 if it's required.

http://www.kcra.com/article/600-want-names-removed-from-anti-elk-grove-casino-petition/8355364