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Show IDS lobbying will never stop pari-mutuel, ' supporters say i By MARK EDDINGTON Staff Writer BOUNTIFUL A Mormon Church statement condemning gambling in all of its forms doesn't necessarily sound the death knell for pari-mutuel betting, bet-ting, supporters say. A bill repealing a ban on pari-mutuel betting enacted Oby state legislators 63 years ago is expected to be introduced in-troduced sometime during the legislative session which started yesterday. If approved, the new bill would give citizens in each county the right to decide if they want pari-mutuel wagering. Stating an awareness of growing support for pari-mutuel pari-mutuel betting on horse racing and efforts to organize a state lottery, the Mormon Church hierarchy issued a statement last week reiterating the church's longstanding longstan-ding opposition to gambling in any form. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposes gambling in its various forms. Experience has clearly shown gambling to be harmful to the human spirit, financially destructive of individuals and families, and detrimental to the moral climate of communities. com-munities. The attitude of the Church on this matter has been consistent and clear over a period of more than a century. Starting with President Brigham Young and affirmed most recently by President Ezra Taft Benson, Latter-day Saint leaders have denounced gambling as an evil that 'tends to break down the moral and spiritual strength of the people. ' "Utah now faces renewed and vigorous attempts to legalize gambling, including a state-operated lottery, charitable gambling and pari-mutuel betting. We regard these efforts as a moral issue and unalterably oppose such proposals on grounds of private and public morality, morali-ty, as well as a threat to the cultivation and maintenance of strong family and community values," said the statement representing the views of the Mormon First Presidency and Council of the Twelve. The statement was mailed to all 104 state lawmakers last week and is being shared with Mormon regional representatives and other church leaders throughout Utah. When the First Presidency speaks as a presidency, Mormon doctrine holds such pronouncements to represent rep-resent the mind and will of deity. But local legislators say they will not be swayed by the church's position and will decide the matter on their own. Sen. Haven Barlow, R-Davis County, admits the decision will definitely have an impact on how some legislators vote, but said he will decide for himself. "I have never voted on any issue a certain way just because the church came out and expressed an opinion. As a legislator I represent all the people and not just Mormons. I'm very sensitive to that." Rep. Ann Smedley, R-Bountiful, concedes the Mormon Mor-mon Church as a big influence, saying any gambling measure will probably not get far in Utah. Yet she maintained she would decide for herself and asked constituents con-stituents for more feedback, "I want to know how they feel," she said. SEE BET ON A-4 - L ,i Supporters of the measure argue legalization will open the revenue floodgates for counties and cities in rural Utah; places such as Vernal, Roosevelt, and Sevier that are unable to compete with densely-populated densely-populated areas along the Wasatch Front for high-tech industry. U.S. Agriculture Department statistics indicate Utahs horse industry in-dustry to be worth in excess of $1.5 billion. The current ban on pari-mutuel pari-mutuel means many breeders and racers are taking their business out of state. Schvaneveldt said 85 percent per-cent of the fans and 90 percent of the horses raced at Wyoming Downs are from Utah. Supporters argue bringing pari-mutuel pari-mutuel betting would bring in millions of additional tax revenues for schools and roads. Critics worry legalization will lead to state lotteries, lot-teries, casino type gambling and other forms of entertainment not in keeping with the state's conservative conser-vative image and family-oriented traditions. "This issue is not going to go away, even if the bill doesn't pass. It will not be swept under the rug. One little defeat means we'll just keep coming back," Schvaneveldt said. Bet CONTINUED FROM A-l L Citizens To Put Utah First director direc-tor Bret Schvaneveldt argued against pari-mutuel betting being labeled as a form of gambling. Schvaneveldt heads a grass-roots organization made up of businessmen, busi-nessmen, horse breeders, labor, educators and concerned citizens that want to bring pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing to Utah. Schvaneveldt said the 1925 Utah Supreme Court ruled pari-mutuel was not in violation of the state constitution's prohibition against gambling, ruling pari-mutuel wagering was a game of skill rather than pure chance. Pari-mutuel horse races were held at Weber County Downs in 1 926 through late 1 927 . Pari-mutuel Pari-mutuel betting ceased the following year when the legislature passed an ordinance banning wagering on races. A simple majority in both houses of the legislature is all that is required re-quired to repeal the ban and send the measure to citizens in each county. Schvaneveldt said that despite the Mormon Church's opposition, op-position, his organization had firm commitments from 35 representatives represen-tatives and 10 senators to vote for lifting the ban. The bill needs the approval of 38 representatives and 15 senators to pass. Joseph Hull, D-Hooper; Gale Voigt, D-Syracuse; Vernon Borgeson, D-Clearfield; Haynes Fuller, D-Eden are among the representatives rep-resentatives Schvaneveldt lists as firm supporters. Voigt is co-sponsoring co-sponsoring the pari-mutuel bill. State Senator Winn Richards, D-Morgan, D-Morgan, is another supporter. Pari-mutuel racing has also received the endorsement of 33 chambers of commerce, the Utah Quarter Horse Association, elected officials of six counties in rural areas of central Utah, and others. "This may slow us down a bit, but it won't stop pari-mutuel altogether," alto-gether," Voigt said of the Mormon Church statement. Schvaneveldt agreed, saying it was too bad people were focusing on the wagering aspect of pari-mutuel pari-mutuel while ignoring the economic benefits. "The money wagered at the betting bet-ting window is chump change when compared to what an expanded and growing horse industry is worth. The money that is earned when a farmer decides to grow an extra field of hay or buy a couple of extra brood mares; the money that comes from more grain sales or from having another four or five veterinarians veter-inarians move into the statethat's where the real money and economic benefits will come from, not the racetrack," he said. |