THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260441
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Riverboat gambling proponents said Tuesday that honest mistakes, not a campaign of deception, led to the unauthorized use of names of Virginians purported to support floating casinos.
``In no way was the process meant to misrepresent anybody's view,'' said Bob Shaw, chairman of the Virginia Riverboat Council.
State Sen. Jackson Reasor Jr., D-Tazewell, said he has received about 500 letters from constituents asking him to vote for riverboat gambling in the next legislative session. After he wrote the citizens to thank them for sharing their views, several called to say they did not write the letters or authorize the use of their names.
Shaw said the problem apparently stems from a telemarketing effort by Targeted Communications, an Alexandria company hired by the council.
``We started a simple grassroots campaign,'' Shaw said. ``Our mission and goal was to educate the people of Virginia about the economic benefits of riverboat gaming.''
He said company employees called citizens, read a list of economic benefits, then asked the citizens if they support riverboat gambling. Those who said yes were asked if they would like their name to be used on a Mailgram asking their state legislator to support a riverboat gambling bill.
Shaw said those who agreed were then sent a copy of the Mailgram and a letter giving them a toll-free number to call if they had decided they didn't want their name used. by CNB