PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Portsmouth City Council was just one vote away from approving a city resolution supporting casino gambling in the city. The lone opposing vote came from Mayor Kenny Wright.
Council members held a special meeting Tuesday night to get feedback from residents on casinos coming to the waterfront. After a 2 1/2 hour meeting filled with opinions both for and against the casinos, council proposed a motion to consider a resolution supporting the casino legislation. City code required a unanimous vote from council before the casino resolution could even be considered.
Mayor Wright's opposing vote delayed the consideration of the resolution.
Portsmouth City Council will hold another special meeting Wednesday at 9 p.m. to discuss the resolution again. The meeting is at a time a lot of council members say is inconvenient for residents.
Mayor Wright said his opposition is not about his stance against casinos, but the timing of the resolution vote.
"This resolution says January, that is when it was supposed to be adopted," said Mayor Wright. "We all agreed to that prior to coming to this meeting and to come in here and see that council wanted to change that doesn't bode well from a public. And, I'm not going to allow it."
State Senator Louise Lucas, who drafted the casino legislation, and city council member Bill Moody believe Mayor Wright is opposing the vote because he does not want casinos to come to the city.
"Maybe it is that way in the mayor's mind," said Moody. "The mayor, by his actions, was totally inconsiderate of the public and council. It will not change the vote one iota."
Sen. Lucas went on to tell 10 On Your Side she believes Mayor Wright's opposition is a tactic to stop her from coming to the special meeting.
"He did this because he knows I wouldn't show up because I was in the hospital, but I will," said Lucas.
10 On Your Side asked Lucas if she believes Mayor Wright was intentionally delaying the resolution.
"Why don't I go ahead and say it: Yes, I do," she said.
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