Marchers Feel Card Rooms Don’t Deal Cities a Fair Hand : Protest: Cypress, Stanton residents oppose ballot measures that would allow card rooms in their cities.

About 125 residents of Cypress and Stanton marched Saturday in opposition to the measures on the June 8 ballot that ask each city’s voters to allow card clubs.

The five-mile route went along Katella Avenue, past Stanton’s future City Hall, and ended in a Cypress parking lot across from the Los Alamitos Race Course, which is the proposed site for a card club.

At the end of the march, Westminster Mayor Charles V. Smith announced that Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi and Sheriff Brad Gates will soon sign a resolution opposing card clubs.

Smith said the resolution was discussed last week at the Orange County Chiefs of Police & Sheriff’s Assn. meeting.

Saturday’s march was organized by David J. Shawver, a former Stanton councilman.

Many of the marchers, with children in tow, said they worry that card clubs will destroy the quality of life in their cities.

Supporters maintain card clubs will bring millions of dollars into hard-pressed city treasuries and hundreds of new jobs. But opponents say they fear criminals will be drawn to the high-stakes games.

“I don’t want to chance it,” said Stanton resident Rick Wilkerson as he pulled his daughter Sky, 3, behind him in a wagon.

Some supporters have said Stanton could repeal its recently passed 6% utility tax if the clubs are approved.

Wilkerson, a telephone cable splicer, said he would rather pay the tax than risk the crime that he said might accompany card clubs.

Patrons at card clubs bet on poker and other card games. The clubs usually make money off of each bet or by renting seats to players. Clubs pay a percentage of profits to the cities in which they are located.

In Stanton, the vote is simply to decide whether to allow card clubs. No site for a card club is on the ballot, but local developer Ard Keuilian has proposed use of his Indoor Swap Meet of Stanton on Beach Boulevard. Keuilian and his partners are funding the campaign in favor of Measure A.

Cypress residents, however, will be asked to authorize a $30-million card club at the Los Alamitos Race Course, as proposed by course owner Lloyd Arnold and his partners. Since the county is running Stanton’s election and Cypress will handle its own, the card club initiatives are each known as Measure A on both city ballots.

“We cannot have this gambling,” said Helen Dawson, a 21-year Stanton resident, as she walked along the route with her husband, Paul. She has often spoken against card clubs at council meetings.

The march began at 11:30 a.m. and lasted for about two hours. Cypress Councilwoman Cecilia L. Age joined the marchers, as did Westminster Mayor Smith and Los Alamitos Mayor Ronald Bates.

Stanton Councilman Harry M. Dotson did not walk because of arthritic knees, but drove his car alongside the marchers and honked his horn in support.

One marcher, Beverly Ary, 53, said she has always avoided registering to vote, to escape being selected for jury duty. But the Stanton resident is now registered, and looks forward to casting her first vote against Measure A, she said.

When the marchers passed Best Burgers on Katella Avenue, owner John Yu accepted a sign denouncing Measure A and put it on a wall in front of his restaurant. “If (card clubs) come in, that means a lot of new gangs, maybe,” Yu said, adding he would not like an increase in business if it meant catering to possible troublemakers.

Cypress resident Jim Hagenbach marched with his poodle Clouseau. The dog wore a sign draped over his back that said “Vote NO. Don’t let Cypress go to the dogs.”

Los Alamitos Mayor Bates addressed the marchers when they gathered near the race course.

“Our friend here isn’t concerned about Cypress or Los Alamitos,” Bates said, referring to course owner Lloyd Arnold. “He’s only concerned about the money he can take out of the community.”