Sonoma County may get the chance to weigh in on whether it supports a casino after all, although the vote may come in November rather than June.

County supervisor Mike Kerns said he will once again try to introduce the vote — this time for the November ballot — after concerns over the procedure, cost and effect of a vote with no legal impact prevented a June vote.

Kerns previously said he would drop his effort to put the vote on the June ballot after the county's mayors and council members decided not to weigh in on the issue before the March 12 deadline. Kerns had planned to introduce it to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors if a majority of cities supported it.

“It's very clear that the board has no interest in considering this for June,” said Kerns.

Petaluma Councilmember Mike Healy first introduced the advisory vote to Kerns and pushed for it amid concerns that the cost would not be worth the information that it reveals. A 2006 advisory vote found that nearly 80 percent of Petaluma residents opposed a possible casino south of the city.

But Healy said that the vote is important because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will take public sentiment into account before negotiating land deals with Native American tribes.

After Sonoma County cities decided in February not to weigh in, Healy introduced a proposal to poll a smaller number of voters — only those living near a proposed casino in Rohnert Park. The proposal was dropped because of the cost and the time county staff needed to prepare it for the ballot.

Healy, along with Councilmember David Rabbitt, Mayor Pam Torliatt and Penngrove rancher and accountant John King, are running for Kerns' supervisor seat in the June primary.

The Stop the Casino 101 Coalition, an anti-casino group that Healy belongs to, raised about $30,000 toward the approximate $100,000 cost of putting the vote on the ballot. That money will still be used in November, said Kerns.

“Now there will be an effort to get more pledges,” said Healy.

Kerns said now that there is more time, he will seek the input of cities again.

“It gives me a stronger argument if I have a majority of cities that say yes,” he said.

Kerns also said that he will pursue a countywide vote again rather than Healy's previous idea of polling a smaller section of voters surrounding the proposed Rohnert Park casino.

“I think the countywide vote is a stronger approach,” said Kerns. “It gives us a stronger voice in Sacramento.”