Texans have long valued fiscal integrity and transparency in government. Yet today, it appears a deep-pocketed casino giant is trying to hijack one local election and buy political power right here in the Lone Star State.
Situated in the southwest corner of Dallas County, the City of Irving has become a battleground for efforts by Las Vegas Sands to bring casino gambling to Texas. While casino gambling is still illegal at the State level, the casino giant submitted a proposal to the City Council for approval of a so-called “destination resort” — a project that would ultimately be the future home for a sprawling casino complex.
Citizens, however, rallied against the measure. Hundreds of Irving residents packed Planning and Zoning Committee meetings and City Council hearings, urging their elected officials to reject the effort to turn their community into a hotbed for crime, human trafficking, addiction, and social decay. After an outpouring of grassroots opposition, a thin majority of the City Council rejected the proposal.
But the fight is far from over. This upcoming local election puts that hard-won victory in jeopardy. And it appears Las Vegas Sands is working aggressively to undo its previous defeat.
Recent filings reveal that the Lone Star Conservative Action Fund — heavily financed by interests tied to Las Vegas Sands — has spent nearly $100,000 to push handpicked candidates for Irving City Council, including David Pfaff and Tony Grimes.
The goal is clear: stack the council with officials who will be more compliant to the casino lobby’s wishes.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has long warned that the casino lobby would use big money and deceptive messaging to infiltrate our communities. Instead of an honest debate about the harms of expanded gambling, Sands is trying to tip the scales behind closed doors – bankrolling candidates who will rubber stamp their agenda once in office.
This isn’t about economic development. It’s about political manipulation. It’s about putting Irving residents and taxpayers on the hook for a future riddled with predatory gambling, broken promises, broken families, and government cronyism. It’s about eroding local control and surrendering the city’s future to out-of-state corporate interests.
The people of Irving deserve a city council that works for them — not for casino billionaires seeking to exploit our communities and families for profit. Every voter should be asking: Why is a Las Vegas casino company spending so much to influence a local city council race?
We urge every Irving voter to reject this hostile takeover of local government.
Your city — and our state’s future — are too important to gamble away.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the support of private donors across the Lone Star State in order to promote fiscal responsibility and pro-taxpayer government in Texas. Please consider supporting our efforts! Thank you!
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