| People Against a Casino Town |
| PACT News
Release |
| NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2005 PACT ADDS KELLY CLARK TO LEGAL TEAM
PACT, People Against a Casino Town, today announced that they have strengthened their legal team through the addition of Kelly Clark of Portland's O'Donnell and Clark firm. Mr. Clark is a trial and appellate lawyer with an extensive background in fighting government agencies - and all of the political, legal and constitutional angles that those fights present. A recognized expert on the Oregon Constitution, he has had major trial wins against the City of Portland, Multnomah County, the State of Oregon - on some high profile and hard-fought cases - and some 85 local, state and federal government agencies. In addition, he has represented numerous political and ballot measure campaigns. Through all that he has earned a reputation as being highly skilled and knowledgeable in winning in the court of public opinion, as well as in the courts of law. Mr. Clark served two terms in the Oregon Legislature in the early 1990's, and even spent some time earlier in his career in Washington DC on the staff of Senator Mark Hatfield. Mr. Clark says that, in spite of a very full caseload, he is eager to jump in to the casino battle. "From the time I was in the Legislature, I have been adamantly opposed to the expansion of gambling in this state," he says, "and that is no different simply because it is the tribes who are doing the expansion. It is unconscionable that the government uses its own lottery or the agreements with the tribes to foist gambling on us, knowing as it does that this is one of the most pernicious, addictive and destructive activities people can do, and knowing that it destroys lives, families and communites. I always said that if I ever got a chance to use my legal skills to take on the gambling interests, I would drop everything to do it. So I am honored to be part of such a worthy cause." "I am encouraged at PACT's chances, pleased to be working with such dedicated people, and excited to be working with such an outstanding colleague as Alexis Johnson - who knows as much about the constitution and casinos as anyone in the country." |