Two straight legislative session busts won’t stop Mayor Tom Henry from pushing a gambling referendum for Fort Wayne.

The city has spent $90,000 of its income tax revenues since the start of 2009 on lobbying firms to seek a public vote asking whether residents support legalized gambling in the Summit City.

Despite those efforts, the city was rebuffed again this year with no gambling bill affecting Fort Wayne coming from the General Assembly’s legislative session.

“We were a little disappointed that we didn’t get the referendum language,” said Ozzie Mitson, business and legislative liaison for Henry. “The mayor is still going to fight to get a referendum.”

Since the start of 2009, the city paid two lobbying firms to help with the gambling effort even though Henry has not said whether he wants a casino, only that he wants a referendum.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister was paid $51,506.82 and Krieg Devault was paid $38,497.50, according to city invoices.

In December the city cut ties with Taft to cut costs, but continued to use Krieg Devault this year with few tangible results. Mitson said the firm was worth the $3,000 monthly fee because of the importance of the gambling issue.

“Given the economic potential in gaming and the number of jobs, it was vital our interests were represented whenever the topic was discussed,” he said.

House members considered an amendment that would have allowed the city of Fort Wayne and Steuben County to have a referendum on casino gambling as recently as late February, but the bill was withdrawn after concerns were raised about other gambling issues.

However, Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, said pushing for a referendum is a waste of time for the city. He said any community that has a casino has had a referendum prior to getting a license, but there has never been a referendum so early in the process.

“I don’t know why you would want one,” he said.

Espich said legislators are also cautious about expanding gambling in the state, especially when existing casinos are struggling. He added there hasn’t been any unanimity from Fort Wayne on the issue and legislators aren’t going to force gaming on a community.

City Councilman Tom Smith, R-1st, said it is time to stop paying for something nobody really wants. He said he doesn’t support bringing gambling to the community and spending money on lobbyists isn’t the best choice for the city.

He said local legislators don’t seem interested in granting the city a resolution, nor does most of the community.

“I don’t understand how the mayor is missing out on this information,” Smith said.

Mitson said the city will continue to employ Krieg Devault throughout the year because of the potential economic boost gambling could give the city.

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