Election 2004

Florida - Advocates for greyhounds lost a close vote over a hotly contested ballot initiative in Florida. The initiative was geared toward generating massive revenue for the greyhound racing industry by allowing slot machines at Florida racing tracks, which constitute one-third of the dog racing tracks in the nation.

The fight over Amendment 4 pitted wealthy track owners and gambling interests against several humane organizations, including the national greyhound advocacy group Grey2K USA. The result was too close to call for two days after the election, before being resolved by votes arriving late from Broward County. Advocacy groups are planning legal action to challenge this result, and they urge volunteers not to give up the fight.

Election day brought mixed results in races across the country that featured important humane issues. Many animal advocates were encouraged by the defeat of U.S. Rep. Chris John, an open advocate for cockfighting, in the Louisiana Senate race, and the failed re-election bid in Texas of U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, a staunch opponent of animal protection measures such as the Downed Animal Protection Act. Also encouraging was the defeat in Arizona of Proposition 104, which would have made it more difficult to place citizen initiatives on the ballot.

Meanwhile, animal advocates lost several ballot measures dealing with hunting, including initiatives in Alaska and Maine to outlaw bear baiting. More than 80 percent of Montana voters supported a drive to make hunting, fishing, and trapping a state constitutional right, while measures to make citizen initiatives more difficult passed in Alaska and Florida.

San Antonio, Texas - Website administrator Jay Tope unveiled his candidacy for mayor of San Antonio by pledging to make San Antonio a no-kill city if he's elected in the May contest. Tope said he would work with animal control and rescue groups to put together spay/neuter and adoption campaigns. Also a supporter of property tax cuts, Tope faces an uphill battle in his campaign against three better-known and better-funded candidates, but says he intends to launch an aggressive grassroots campaign. For more information on this unusual candidacy, see the report from WOAI television news.