Wichita ? Several south-central legislators who say they oppose gambling are the targets of a recall effort because they accepted campaign contributions from northern Kansas Indian casinos.

A group called Citizens 4 Recall announced the recall effort Friday, saying the legislators were guilty of misconduct, one of three grounds for recalling a state lawmaker.

The Wichita Eagle reported earlier this year that 19 legislators who signed an August letter to Sedgwick County commissioners urging them to reject putting a gambling referendum on the ballot received a total of $44,000 in campaign contributions from existing casinos.

The legislators have ignored the wishes of the people they represent, said Kelley Edgar, of Wellington, who announced the recall effort.

One of the targets of the effort, Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, said he was disappointed that the group chose “intimidation rather than negotiation.”

The existing Indian-owned casinos oppose expansion of gambling in Kansas.

Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita, who opposes gambling, received contributions from the Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe and Harrah’s Entertainment, which runs a tribal casino near Holton, and the Sac & Fox tribe, which operates a smaller casino north of Harrah’s.

Donovan said Friday the group had a right to gather petitions, but he stressed that the contributions did not buy his support.

The secretary of state’s office would oversee a recall vote.