Grand Ronde Continuing To Spend Big Against Dead Casino

Nearly two weeks after Canadian investors abandoned their $6 million campaign to turn Wood Village into Monte Carlo with a water slide, the Grand Ronde tribe continues to pump money into advertising aimed at defeating Measures 82 and 83.

Those measures ask voters to end Oregon's constitutional ban on private casinos and to allow the establishment of a casino in Wood Village.

A new poll The Oregonian released yesterday show the measures are likely to be defeated by more than a two-to-one margin, yet filings today show the Grand Ronde has dumped another $623,000 into the "It's Still a Bad Idea" committee, which opposes the casino measures. The Grand Ronde have now spent more than $2.5 million this year to defend their position as the largest casino in the state.

Cynara Lilly, a spokeswoman for the "no" campaign, says her group is playing catch-up in an effort dispel the information casino proponents pumped into market with their millions of early advertising. The tribes also want to send a message.

"We think it’s important that these guys understand that Oregon really doesn’t want them," Lilly says.

Ballots will be counted on Nov. 6.