By July 14, David Anderson needs to collect nearly double the number of signatures he’s gathered so far in his crusade to rid Lakewood of minicasinos.

With the odds against him, Anderson is relying on Lakewood’s churches in a last-ditch effort to succeed.

Members from at least eight congregations – including Baptists, Episcopalians and Mormons – already have gathered petition signatures to put a halt to minicasinos in Lakewood.

“We’ve been signing lots of petitions,” said Joyce Hazelbaker, office administrator at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood. “We feel that more casinos is going to bring more crime into Lakewood.”

But so far, the churches’ and Anderson’s efforts have fallen short.

Anderson said Thursday that he had 2,084 signatures in hand. He needs 3,707 signatures to force city leaders to outlaw minicasinos, or at least allow voters to decide in November.

He already has failed to meet his self-imposed deadline of July 4. He’s extended signature collecting to the latest date, July 14. By mid-August, the City Council will have to decide what to do with the measure, and Anderson must allow enough time before that for the Pierce County auditor to validate the signatures.

Anderson is making a last push for support from churchgoers with a rally at 6:30 p.m. Monday outside Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St. S.W. He acknowledges he faces an uphill struggle but says he is optimistic.

“I’m quite sure we’ll meet our deadline and our goal,” said Anderson, 58, an anti-gambling activist who attends Tillicum Baptist Church.

Churches generally are opposed to gambling and view it as a vice that can lead to addiction, debt and broken families.

But they’re taking different positions on getting politically involved in the initiative drive in Lakewood.

Some, such as St. Mary’s and First Baptist Church of Lakewood, have opened their buildings as places to gather signatures. Others, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have not.

“Gambling is contrary to our doctrine, our practice and our teachings,” said Perrin Walker, a regional leader for the Mormon church and a Tacoma attorney. “The church is an institution of salvation and redemption, but not a political institution.”

Walker said he’s heard that some members are circulating petitions away from church buildings. But the Mormon church is not taking a stand on the initiative drive, a stance Walker confirmed with a leader at the Latter-day Saints’ headquarters in Salt Lake City.

Anderson’s opponents point out that minicasinos generate tax revenue – $2.85 million for Lakewood last year – that local governments need to survive. His foes also say the four remaining minicasinos provide hundreds of family-wage jobs with benefits.

Max Faulkner, president of the state Recreational Gaming Association, told The News Tribune recently that critics exaggerate the negative effects of minicasinos.

“Most people would ask themselves, ‘What harm is that doing to me?’” Faulkner said. “None.”

The Rev. Peter Mactutis, pastor at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Lakewood, said the Catholic Church believes gambling is dangerous because it’s addictive. “We wouldn’t say that it’s inherently evil or wrong to gamble,” Mactutis said. “It needs to be done in moderation and not in excess.”

Mactutis, who started as the parish’s pastor this week, said he’s not aware of any parishioners gathering signatures. He said the church generally doesn’t allow petition-signing on parish property, just like it doesn’t endorse political candidates.

At First Baptist of Lakewood, sign-up sheets have been placed in the church foyer, and Anderson has gathered signatures in the parking lot. The result: 118 signatures, Anderson said.

“I don’t think it’s going as well as I would like,” said the Rev. Walt Kellcy, First Baptist’s pastor.

Many in his church want to see gambling eliminated in Lakewood, while many others want to see it limited, he said.

Gambling puts people in debt and hurts families, Kellcy said.

But he also said church members have some mixed feelings about the initiative drive. They worry the city will have to raise taxes or cut its budget – even the number of police – if minicasinos are shut down.

They feel caught between their pocketbooks and their morals, Kellcy said. “It’s a big issue for people.”

Lakewood spokesman Jeff Brewster said the city hasn’t counted out Anderson and his allies yet. Nor has the city begun to address raising taxes or making budget cuts if the measure passes, he said.

Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647