DETROIT, Mich., June 6, 1998 -  "We can't outspend gambling casino operators, but the good citizens of Michigan can outwork them with motivated volunteers, and we can outsmart them," said Pete Peters, 58, a retired manufacturers' rep from Sylvan Lake who, as a leader in the petition signature campaign being conducted by "The Coalition to Repeal Proposal E", participated in a Detroit news conference today.

"Still undisclosed sources spent $10.5 million the last three weeks of the November 1996 election through one committee to win casino gambling in Detroit Proposal E by just 1%," Peters noted. "A Detroit News poll published earlier this week showed there wouldn't even be a majority of voters today supporting casino gambling in Detroit if we get the issue on the ballot in November 1998.

"A survey of 1,500 households by the Center for Applied Research Rural Studies at Central Michigan University in March concluded 53% of Michigan voters would vote AGAINST Detroit gambling casinos if given a second chance.

"We are redoubling our efforts to collect 400,000 petition signatures by June 12, 1998 to stop casino gambling in Detroit before it starts. We need 247,127 valid petition signatures to file with the Secretary of State Bureau of Elections in Lansing by 5 p.m. We already collected over 200,000. "By filing 400,000 petition signatures, no amount of challenge from Las Vegas gambling interests can stop Michigan citizens from putting the right to Repeal Proposal E of 1996 on the November 3, General Election Ballot.

"To make sure we safely surpass the minimum number of valid petition signatures, we are sending our army of volunteers back into the grassroots to collect more signatures on clip boards. Starting today, we're going to reimburse volunteers for their car expenses and meals. "More significantly, we are spending $175,000 this week to run full-page newspaper ads which will distribute the legal petition form needed to stop Detroit casino gambling before it starts to half the households in Michigan. We are asking newspaper readers to cut out, sign and mail signed petitions, also signed by the circulator, to: "Coalition to Repeal Proposal E, 1120 E. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48901. Questions will be answered by Rev. Allen Rice and volunteers by calling1-800-745-3334 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. We need signed petitions in our Lansing office by 3 p.m., Friday, June 12. "I assure you 100% of the contributions and signatures we collect are from Michigan residents who vote, and all of our contributions and expenditures are in compliance with Michigan's Campaign Finance Act of 1976," Peters concluded.