Gilley questions congressional candidate’s moral character

By Debbie Ingram

Published: July 3, 2008

Ronnie Gilley admits it. He is politically incorrect.

“The last thing I wanted to happen was for me to get drug into a political campaign,” he said.

But the Country Crossing developer did enter the political arena by publicly endorsing Sen. Harri Anne Smith for Congress during a Thursday morning press conference.

And 2nd Congressional District candidate Jay Love put him in this spotlight, he says, with an attack ad aimed at Smith, Love’s opponent in the July 15 GOP runoff. The ad implies that Gilley’s co-sponsoring of a Smith fundraiser constitutes her accepting gambling money.

“There is no gambling money,” Gilley said, denying he has given Smith a penny of financial support for her campaign. “I bet on some football games every now and then, and I’ve been to Biloxi.”

Country Crossing is expected to open in 2009, and bingo will be one of 10 venues opening in Phase I. But thus far, there are no gambling revenues.

Gilley told the Eagle on Wednesday that Love is “a blatant liar” for denying the fact that he (Love), came to Enterprise and asked Gilley for his support and a financial contribution.

Gilley repeated that Love told him he had no problems with bingo. The Love campaign says the visit to Gilley’s office was to talk about economic development.

Love’s campaign spokesperson Michael Lowry said Love “adamantly pointed out that vision does not include the expansion of gambling.”

“Mr. Love, if you were opposed to our project, then you are opposed to economic development,” Gilley said. “You are opposing something wonderful for this part of the country.”

Gilley attacked Love for claiming to be a Christian conservative.

“I am a Christian, but ... I don’t claim to be holier than thou. Mr. Love has built his entire campaign on moral issues and Christianity. If you are going to do that, you probably should start with the Ten Commandments,” Gilley said.
“I’m no Bible scholar, but I know it says ‘Thou shalt not lie.’ You shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor. That’s the biggest problem I got. You better sweep off under your own front porch before you sweep off under ours.”

Smith and Gilley originally crossed hairs after Country Crossing was announced in February; Smith introduced legislation calling for a bingo vote of the people, which she withdrew after receiving an outpouring of criticism over her decision.

Two months later, Gilley was asked by business associates to put his name on a fundraising invitation for Smith. He agreed.
Because of his outspokenness, Gilley admitted his endorsement of Smith might not be welcome.

“Whether she wants my support or not — now, she has it. We speak for the common man and woman who punches a clock every day and whose voice is not heard,” he said. “This blatant attack over this project to benefit this area is beyond me.”

Gilley called it “absurd” for Love’s campaign to claim he drove to Enterprise to say he was against the project.

“If you are gonna lie, make up a good one,” Gilley said.