ANGOLA, Ind. (WLKI)- The political action committee supporting the potential placement of a casino in Steuben County has announced a change in its membership ahead of the November referendum.
According to The Herald Republican, Kevin Stoy has stepped away from an active role with the Steuben Where Fun Wins Political Action Committee. Retired education administrator Elten Powers of Pleasant Lake has joined local businessmen Chuck Nedele, the committee's chairman, and Mike Votaw.
Powers said the organization intends to provide information about the proposed casino development and encourage voters to support Public Question Number Three in the November 3 election.
The PAC was established to promote a casino resort development as an economic opportunity for Steuben County. Its statement of organization was filed with the Steuben County Clerk's Office on July 29.
The Indiana General Assembly approved legislation this spring allowing the state's 14th casino license to be placed in Allen, DeKalb or Steuben County. Before a casino can be located in one of those counties, voters in at least one of them must approve the referendum question.
If voters in more than one county approve the proposal, the casino operator selected through the state's bidding process would choose where to locate. If the referendum fails in all three counties, the casino proposal would not move forward.
The PAC represents residents and businesses supporting the development. It is privately funded and has no official government affiliation.
Separately, the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation, Steuben County Tourism Bureau and Steuben County Board of Commissioners have been distributing official information about the proposal.
Those organizations previously established a website and Facebook page using the "Steuben Where Fun Wins" name as House Bill 1038 moved through the Legislature.
Powers is a Pleasant Lake native and a 1964 graduate of Angola High School. He earned three degrees from Ball State University and spent 40 years working in public education in several Indiana communities.
After retiring in 2006, Powers returned to Pleasant Lake. He has also been active in local Democratic Party politics and previously served as chairman of the Steuben County Democratic Party.
The PAC is accepting contributions by mail and through its online platforms.