
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 13, 1994                   TAG: 9401130225
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

ANDREWS WON'T VOTE ON GAMBLING

State Sen. Hunter Andrews, a part owner of waterfront property in Hampton that could be a mooring site for a floating casino, gave assurances Wednesday that he'll take no part in the General Assembly's consideration of bills to legalize riverboat gambling.

Andrews, D-Hampton, who is the Senate's majority leader and perhaps its most powerful member, said he would invoke Senate conflict-of-interest rules to abstain from all votes and debates on riverboat gambling.

Andrews described himself as a "very limited partner" in Strawberry Banks Co., the firm that owns the motel of the same name at the western end of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. A Dallas hotel and casino company is negotiating for options to buy the site as base for a gambling boat.

Andrews said his interest in the firm, which he has valued at "more than $50,000" in his official financial disclosure statement, dates to before he was elected to the legislature in 1963. As a limited partner, he is not involved in managing the business, he said.

Backers of riverboat gambling are expected to try hard this year to win assembly approval of gaming boats.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

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