LAKEWOOD, WA — Volunteer representatives of Save Lakewood, presented more than 1,100 additional signatures to the Lakewood City Clerk at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 1.
The group gathered the additional signatures after the petitions submitted to the Pierce County Auditor on July 15 contained many signatures of unregistered or non-resident voters. The 1,100 additional signatures, plus the 2,947 signatures certified by the auditor from the July 15 petitions, surpass the 3,707 required to place a measure to prohibit mini-casinos in Lakewood on the ballot in November.
The signatures will be submitted to the Pierce County Auditor for certification by the City of Lakewood, and the result of the review is expected the week of August 4.
“Our volunteers really worked overtime to bring in the additional signatures we needed,” said David Anderson, chair of the group. “We were disappointed when the initial petitions had so many ineligible signatures. And while we couldn‚Äôt count the disqualified signatures, we appreciate the support of all those people who want to see an end to mini-casinos in Lakewood. We look forward to having a full and open discussion about the total social and economic impacts of gambling and then to have the opportunity to vote on this issue.”
Members of Save Lakewood will rally at City Hall at 6 pm on Monday, August 4, before the Lakewood City Council meeting at 7 pm, to acknowledge the historic nature of this initiative petition, which is the first use of the initiative process in Lakewood since the Initiative and Referendum powers were adopted by 72 percent of Lakewood voters in 2006.