Small Town News

Commander of Rileys gaming task force resigns; backlash ensues

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Reaction to David Barber's resignation as commander of Gov. Bob Riley's much-publicized Task For on Illegal Gambling after winning $2,300 gambling in Mississippi didn't take long. Victory Land president Milton McGregor, Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley and governor candidate Ron Sparks were quick to decry the "hypocrisy" of Riley and Barber on gambling.

Riley appointed the retired Jefferson County District Attorney Barber several months ago to command the governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling.

In his letter of resignation to the governor written Wednesday, January 13, Barber stated his winning money gambling in Mississippi could become a political distraction to his work with the task force.

"While my actions were in full compliance with the law, I am convinced that the forces that operate illegal casinos in Alabama will focus on my actions as part of their continuing effort to smear you and your task force," Barber wrote. "The work of the task force is too important to allow it to be impeded by such distractions."

Riley praised Barber in accepting his letter of resignation. Riley's letter was written on Thursday, January 14. The two letters weren't released until late Friday, January 15, shortly after the Alabama Supreme Court made a ruling favorable to the task force's attempt to raid the newly-opened Country Crossing in Houston County that features electronic bingo on machines Riley claims are illegal.

Country Crossing and VictoryLand in Macon County are facilities where electronic bingo machines operate legally after being contracted by non-profits to conduct charity bingo on their behalf.

Operators at those facilities say they are operating in compliance with constitutional amendments approved by voters in those counties authorizing charity bingo. Riley has made shutting down those operations a priority and appointed a task force for that purpose.

There have been allegations that Riley is protecting Indian gaming interests at Mississippi casinos after receiving funds from those interests for his 2002 gubernatorial campaign in Alabama. Riley denies those allegations.

Barber's resignation became public Friday, the same day the task force won a victory before the Alabama Supreme Court. The task force, which has already raided a casino in White Hall, was seeking to raid the bingo pavilion at Country Crossing near Dothan.

The state's high court dismissed a case filed by the Houston County Commission to prevent the task force from raiding Country Crossing and seizing electronic bingo machines.

Riley and Barber consider the electronic bingo machines to be slot machines that are illegal in Alabama.

The ruling essentially allowed the task force to move forward with its plan to raid and seize the machines.

VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor has long been a critic of Riley's position concerning electronic bingo and believes the battle against him has now become personal for Riley.

McGregor told the Montgomery Advertiser last week he believes the incident will "destroy" the governor's task force and that it certainly destroys any credibility the unit claimed it had.

"It clearly shows what we have been saying since-day one -- how hypocritical and dishonest David Barber and Bob Riley have been, and still are, on the bingo issue. I don't think anything could say this louder or clearer than what happened (January 15), and that the people of Alabama will clearly demonstrate to Riley and Barber how they resent such hypocrisy and dishonesty."

McGregor also told the Montgomery Advertiser Barber's wasn't the only resignation that was in order.

"Now that this whole so-called task force with David Barber has been exposed as being the sham that it has been since day one, Barber is not the only one who should resign," he said. "I think Riley should resign with him. What Riley has done is a shame and a disgrace.

"Think about the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars that he has wasted paying attorneys' fees on this so-called task force, which is nothing but a protection mechanism for the Indian casino owners. The bottom line is that now the truth is out about David Barber, 'Bob Riley and their so-called task force. This task force is nothing but a scheme that Bob Riley concocted to protect the Indian Mississippi casino owners from any competition whatsoever from Alabama."

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, District Attorney Douglas Valeska of Houston County, where Country Crossing is located, responded quickly to Barber's resignation with a letter to Riley asking him to suspend the task force's work there.

Valeska wrote that Barber recently won the money at a Mississippi Choctaw Indian casino. While Barber's actions in Mississippi were legal, the prosecutor wrote that "they cast a pall over our work here in Houston County."

Valeska wrote that Riley has said the task force's involvement, there was based on his invitation and request for assistance.

"In light of these developments, I am asking that you deem my invitation suspended until" such time as we can consider the impact of these admissions on our work," he wrote, adding that he looked forward to discussing the issue with Riley soon." ... In the meantime, I trust you will suspend any further involvement in Houston County."

Country Crossing developer Gilley stated s he was appalled that Barber was trying to shut down casinos in Alabama while gambling in Mississippi. He said the revelation "proves the hypocrisy associated with the top office in the state of Alabama. Thousands of Alabamians, including Barber, cross the border every day and spend $35,000 an hour gambling in Mississippi," Gilley said.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks, who supports taxing and regulating gambling, released comments stating Barber takes his money from Alabama and gambles in Mississippi with the revenues from that money educating children and creating jobs there.

"This just proves the hypocrisy of those who want to kill Alabama jobs and rob our children and seniors of important revenue," said Sparks, the state's agriculture commissioner. "We have a governor who takes Mississippi gambling money while his anti-gambling czar gambles in Mississippi."

Sparks said the task force, not Country Crossing, is hurting jobs in Alabama.



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© 2010 The Tuskegee News Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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