MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- Gov. Mitch Daniels is wrapping up his seven-county tour encouraging suburban residents to support new taxes to pay for a new Colts stadium and convention center.

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Colts Stadium Tax?

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Since Monday, Daniels has visited all the counties surrounding Marion County. He received a hostile reception Thursday in Morgan County, probably the worst of the week, RTV6's Norman Cox
reported.

At a midday meeting in Martinsville, several residents told Daniels they voted for him and worked for him, but are very unhappy he took on the Colts stadium project. Most attendees expressed that they don't like the prospect of a 1 percent restaurant tax.

The governor reminded the lunchtime crowd that one out of three of them work in Marion County, and they're greatly dependent on Indianapolis for their prosperity. But that didn't impress a number of residents.

"You terribly disappointed me when you started this, when you got involved with the Colts and the stadium and the convention center thing. That's an Indianapolis thing, and I know you represent Indianapolis, too. But don't make me represent Indianapolis," resident Janet Colborn said.

One man who said he helped build the Hoosier Dome told Daniels he had lost his credentials as a conservative for wanting to tear down a perfectly good stadium.

"Tearing this building down and building a new one is not being conservative. Use it, and if them Colts want to leave, tell them to go," Charles Mason said.

But Daniels told his critics that it wasn't mainly about the Colts. According to the governor, the key is expanding the convention center to reclaim lost business that does produce a lot of wealth for the area.

"The Colts thing has tended to dominate this whole discussion. And I have to tell you honestly, if this was just about the stadium and just about the Colts, I'd say let it go," Daniels said.

Some residents expressed support for the tax.

"I think they need it because all of the jobs and revenue and everything," Patricia Gregson said.

One man said he doesn't like the tax, but is convinced it'll pass.

"I ain't real happy about it, but it don't really matter. One percent ain't gonna kill anybody," Doug Engelau said.

A county councilman who opposes the tax is also resigned to losing.

"I think it's gonna pass soon here, I think. We got outnumbered 4-3 Monday night," Morgan County councilman Bryan Collier said.

A Thursday night meeting in Johnson County is the last of the seven.

The voting has already started with the Hancock County council having approved the tax Wednesday. The other six counties must act by the end of the month.