Candidate Urges Gambling Ban for Katrina Aid Recipients

Gubernatorial candidate Pete Sorenson is calling on his rival, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, to prevent hurricane victims from gambling away their federal relief money in Oregon.

In a letter to the governor, Sorenson asked Kulongoski to "direct all Oregon lottery and video poker outlets to immediately institute procedures to refuse to cash federal disaster relief checks or allow the use of federally issued debit cards issued as part of relief efforts."

He added that Kulongoski should ask Oregon tribal casinos to follow the same restrictions.

The Lane County commissioner is one of three Democrats planning to run against Kulongoski in the May primary. In an interview, he said his concern was "constituent driven," and he wasn't aware of any evacuees gambling away their relief checks.

Chuck Baumann, a spokesman for the Oregon Lottery, said he met with agency field managers on Monday. He said there was no talk of storm victims trying to use relief money for gambling.

Groups working with the evacuees said Sorenson's concerns are misplaced.

"The majority of people I've met are just looking to get back on their feet," said Ellen Cedergreen, a founder of Eugene Cares, which is helping look after an estimated 100 evacuees in Lane County. "They're not spending their money on anything other than trying to survive."

Holly Armstrong, a spokeswoman for Kulongoski, said Sorenson's actions were an attempt to get political mileage out of the tragedy.

"I think you're getting into dangerous territory when you're telling people who have been through a horrendous experience how they should and shouldn't spend their money, and assuming that they don't have the judgment to spend it appropriately," she said.