Cianchette for county racino; King backs ban

Two petition drives for statewide referendum votes concerning slot machines in Maine have recently picked up support, with a former governor throwing his backing behind an effort to ban slots and a gubernatorial hopeful coming out for a racino in Washington County.

Republican candidate Peter Cianchette says he supports the effort to establish a tribal racetrack with up to 1,500 slot machines in Washington County. "The people of Maine have spoken about allowing slots at commercial harness racing tracks," says Cianchette. He adds, though, that local approval should be required of the host community.

While Governor John Baldacci vetoed legislation to allow the racino in Washington County and is pocket vetoing a second measure that called for a referendum vote on the issue, Cianchette says he would not have vetoed the legislation. "I certainly would have allowed a vote to go forward," he says.

As for a limit on the number of slot machines in the state, Cianchette believes that economics will dictate that issue. He points out that there are only a certain number of harness racing tracks in state, so he believes there will be a natural limit on the number of slots at the racetracks.

Meanwhile, former Governor Angus King has come out in support of an initiative to ban slot machines. "There are now proposals to put slots in Washington County or perhaps here in Brunswick in light of the closing of the air station," King said. "It's obvious that this plague will not be confined to Bangor very long. The legislature came within one vote of approving, over the governor's veto, another slots project last spring C and once that happens, we'll soon have slots all over Maine, which has been the pattern in other states that have started down this road."

King added, "The Bangor project is a perfect example of the gambling industry's bait and switch tactics. The people voted to allow a limited number of slots to support the Bangor Historic Raceway and the horsemen. And yet now we find that we're looking at 1,500 slots in Bangor and the first phase isn't even at the track C it's at Miller's Restaurant, where you can't even see the raceway or smell a horse."

Competing measures possible
Maine voters could be facing competing measures concerning slot machines on the November 2006 ballot. Backers of the Washington County racino have been collecting signatures on a petition for a vote to allow a tribal racetrack with up to 1,500 slot machines in the county, while No Slots for ME! has been gathering signatures for an initiative to ban slots in the state.

Fred Moore III, the Passamaquoddy representative who sponsored the bill to allow the racino, does not believe a competing measure will hurt the racino effort. "I don't believe the voters of Maine will reverse their position on gaming," he says, referring to the 2003 vote to allow slot machines at the Bangor raceway.

The effort to collect signatures for a vote on the racino is being coordinated at present by members of the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association, but the services of a professional signature gatherer will be engaged later this year. Over 50,000 signatures are needed and must be certified by the Secretary of State's office before the end of January in order for the measure to be on the ballot in November 2006. Moore expects the signatures will be submitted at the start of the new year.

The Maine Christian Civic League and the Maine Grassroots Coalition have joined with No Slots for ME! in the effort to gather signatures for a referendum vote to ban slot machines.