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Tarrant: Despite warnings from Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale and District Attorney Brandon Falls, the City of Tarrant recently opened an electronic bingo gambling facility just off Highway 79 — but not before it filed a lawsuit against Hale.
According to Falls, Tarrant officials filed the lawsuit on Christmas Eve hoping Hale’s ability to regulate bingo in the county will be declared unconstitutional.
“They are claiming that Tarrant’s right to regulate bingo trumps the sheriff’s,” Falls said.
Chief Deputy Randy Christian said Hale’s office has not seen the lawsuit yet.
“My guess is they will file some type of injunction asking that the sheriff’s office be restrained from taking any enforcement action in relation to bingo in the city of Tarrant.”
Previously Jefferson County circuit court judges have upheld Hale’s authority to regulate bingo in Jefferson County, which closed numerous “illegal electronic gaming” establishments in the area.
Christian expects a hearing in this case to be held soon.
Bessemer: Three Bessemer City Council members steadily voting against expanding electronic bingo gambling are no match for four members determined to bring more gambling facilities to the city. But despite the council’s newly appointed “bingo lawyer,” a flurry of bingo resolutions passed by the four, unsubstantiated personal character attacks and several yelling matches, Mayor Edward May has managed to keep the bingo pushers at bay — so far.
In the most recent meeting Jan. 5, Council Members Louise Alexander, Dorothy Davidson, President Pro-Tem Jesse Matthews and President Earl Cochran voted to accept a bingo permit from the local American Legion Hall. The facility was raided and shut down last year and is currently involved in a court battle against the city.
Council Member Sarah Belcher repeatedly asked what type of permit the hall was requesting but did not receive a clear answer. Council Member James Stephens asked the council to wait until Circuit Court Judge Eugene Verin rules on the legality of electronic bingo in Bessemer Cut-Off, a separate political subdivision of Jefferson County, to no avail. Stephens and Belcher’s no votes were joined by Albert Soles.
Next the council quickly approved a relocation request from the Anchor Club seeking to move its gambling operation to an area the four pro-gambling members hope will become the city’s entertainment district.
Then with the help of Attorney Kim Davidson, the council passed a resolution amending the city’s paper bingo ordinance virtually changing it to an electronic bingo gambling ordinance.
May said he planned to veto the resolution and said he may ask a judge for a declaratory judgment in the matter.
“They did not ask for a first reading,” May said. “You had four folks whose minds were made up and three people saying this is not right and agreeing with the mayor. … This puppy needs to be put to bed.”
Stephens, a member of Canaan Baptist Church, Bessemer, said the pro-gambling council members are “looking to make a fast buck. There is something causing them to want to do it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — As a way to consistently monitor electronic bingo gambling issues across the state, The Alabama Baptist will provide updates such as these each week.
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