It’s getting ugly in the Republican fight for the 48th Senatorial District seat, which includes all of Lebanon County, northeastern Lancaster County, and northern and western Berks County. I’m supporting Senator Chris Gebhard for many reasons. I know Chris to be a good family man and a man of integrity. My father did business with his father for many years and I’ve known Chris for most of his life.
As our Senator, Chris has applied common sense with conservative principles, and he has served us well. I know I can pick up the phone at any time of day or night and he will listen and then get to work. In the fairly brief time he has been in the Pennsylvania Senate, Chris has established a solid reputation and delivered in many positive ways for Lebanon County.
Unfortunately, he is facing a wave of negative attacks, funded by outside gaming money in this Primary. Their goal is to replace him with a newcomer.
Mudslinging and character assassination are nothing new in political campaigns – even here in Lebanon County. But you and I have a chance—and a privilege—to say, “No, not here.” I learned firsthand that you can be outgunned and outspent in a campaign, and still honest, fair-minded citizens will give you a chance.
Following the $4 million money trail – it’s a sordid tale, but bear with me. The facts matter.
As reported just last month in LebTown, a political action committee recently filed a campaign finance report at the Lebanon County Courthouse showing $4.3 million in contributions. Of that amount, $4 million came from individuals associated with Pace-O-Matic, a company that manufactures and operates slot-machine-style “skill” games.
To their credit, Pace-O-Matic is a very successful company. They earn hundreds of millions of dollars through gaming machines. They have also been equally successful in their lobbying efforts to protect their interests and their bottom line. To date, they have invested millions in an effective lobbying effort.
They operate their machines with no legal restrictions on age or location, no regulations governing payouts or fair play, and they pay zero gaming taxes. I’m seeing more and more of their colorful, arcade-style consoles in laundromats, gas stations, restaurants, and strip malls across the state.
Their target audience? It seems to be working-class and low-income families, at least that’s how it appears. I’m guessing the market research likely tells them the more kid-friendly, colorful, and video-game-like the machines look, the better.
But who’s regulating these games? Up to this point, their lobbying efforts have delayed or derailed any meaningful efforts to establish reasonable guidelines. That stands in stark contrast to the casino industry, which is heavily regulated and pays a 54% tax on slot machines. The casino gaming revenue contributes positively to communities across the state. So, it’s obvious to any observer why the skill game industry would target any legislator who even mentions regulation.
I believe that it makes sense to establish reasonable guidelines to regulate these games. Their spread across Pennsylvania has been rapid, and in some cases, crime has followed.
As reported last year by Spotlight PA reporter Stephen Caruso, Pace-O-Matic has been funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars into a political action committee called Citizens Alliance for Pennsylvania, which is aimed at defeating conservative Senate Republicans who are tasked with creating fair regulations for skill games.
Who’s paying for all those signs?
We do not know the final number yet, but Pace-O-Matic has reportedly spent deep into the six figures over the past year targeting Senator Gebhard. Those strange-looking signs you may have seen claim that the senator is attacking small businesses? Read the fine print. They were paid for by a newly organized association that proudly states on its Facebook page that it is, yes, an arm of Pace-O-Matic.
Let’s be clear: the only reason a Georgia-based gambling giant is attacking Senator Gebhard of Lebanon County is because he and some of his conservative colleagues can’t be bought by special interests – and they stand in the way of a bigger payday.
Lebanon County’s vote matters, but it is not for sale.
My family’s experience in political campaigns tells us that exposing these efforts does not mean the attacks will stop. In fact, they will likely continue and probably intensify. But the public deserves to know what is happening and why.
Please do your homework and then join me in making the right choice for Lebanon County and re-elect Senator Chris Gebhard. Respectfully, let’s not let Big Gambling pick our next state senator. Our Senator should be responsive to our voice—and no one else’s.
Let’s keep Mr. Clean—Senator Chris Gebhard.
Mike Kuhn
