In politics, it’s good to be ahead of the curve, but you don’t want to be too far out in front because it can get pretty lonely out there.
State Republican Party Chairman Mike Stuart has issued a call for a petition drive to have another vote on whether to allow table games at Tri-State Race Track. Stuart believes the track owners have failed to live up to the promise of $250 million in expansion made before the 2007 election, when voters approved table games.
No, Stuart isn’t alone. Plenty of Republicans are opposed to gambling and some would like another crack at removing table games, which were approved by just over 300 votes. But the GOP is hardly unanimous.
For example, State Senate Minority Leader Mike Hall summoned Stuart to a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans Tuesday. There, some Senators complained that they should have had a heads-up before Stuart unexpectedly called a press conference last week to say he was going after the track.
Stuart reportedly explained privately, as he has publicly, that other race tracks in the state have made good on their promises and the issue at Tri-State is one of accountability. From what I gather, the Republican Senators don’t necessarily disagree, they just question whether the issue is a political winner for them.
True, Stuart can say accurately that Tri-State’s owners have not fulfilled all their promises, but Tri-State responds that its been weathering a recession and that it’s not finished building and expanding. More importantly, Tri-State owner Danny Adkins says without table games, Tri-State might not be able to survive.
That makes the issue about jobs. More than 800 people work at Tri-State and the uncertainty that would come with another vote on table games has made those employees nervous. Republicans, who don’t like that Stuart has thrust the party into this issue, worry that they will be cast as supporting a measure that could cost people their livelihood.
This week, Adkins will speak directly with Tri-State employees about the future of the track. He’s schedule two meetings with works to accommodate all three shifts. One meeting is tonight, the other tomorrow tomorrow morning.
Adkins is expected to tell the employees that he’s going to fight to keep the track open and he wants their help.
Republican Senators who met with Stuart Monday were careful not to ask him to abandon the petition drive to put table games back on the ballot, but clearly they would like him to consider pulling back. And Stuart may have some buyers remorse about plunging into the issue without consulting with more of his fellow Republicans first.
But the bell has been rung.
If Stuart sticks with the petition drive, he forces Republicans to choose up sides on a controversial issue, and not all are going to be with him. Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, Randolph County Senator Clark Barnes and Roane County Delegate Bob Ashley are among the Republicans who have already said Stuart should not have raised the issue.
But if Stuart drops the petition drive, does he lose some credibility because he abandons an effort he initiated with so much fanfare?
Stuart has, so far, been an energetic and effective leader for the often downtrodden West Virginia GOP. His "shoot first, ask questions later" approach occasionally gets him into trouble, but he shakes things up, which is what the leader of the number two party needs to do.
No doubt when Stuart called his press conference last week to announce the petition drive and lambaste Tri-State he realized he was out in front on the issue. I wonder, though, if he meant to be so far out in front that it’s hard to see who’s behind him.