Tribe, county disappointed by racino vote

Maine voters narrowly defeated the Passamaquoddy Tribe's proposal for a harness racing track with slot machines in Calais during the statewide election on November 6. The racino referendum question was turned down by a margin of 52% to 48%, or by about 12,000 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Seventy percent of Washington County voters supported the measure, but the support for the racino was never able to overcome opposition in southern Maine, particularly in Cumberland County, which opposed the citizen-initiative question by a margin of 54% to 46%, and York County, which turned it down 58% to 42%.

"It was very disappointing that we couldn't overcome the southern Maine vote," comments Passamaquoddy Chief Richard Phillips-Doyle of Sipayik. "It seemed like 80% of the deficit we faced was because of Cumberland and York counties." Washington County supporters were surprised that two neighboring counties, Aroostook and Hancock, also voted against the proposal, with the referendum question only garnering 40% support in Aroostook and 48% in Hancock. The vote was nearly dead even in Penobscot County, with Bangor, which is home to the only other racino in the state, opposing a Calais racino by a margin of 54% to 46%.

"There's an enormous sense of disappointment throughout Washington County with the results C sadness even," says State Senator Kevin Raye of Perry. However, both Doyle and Raye were encouraged by the strong support in Washington County. "It was noteworthy that Washington County as a whole stood shoulder to shoulder with the Passamaquoddys," says Raye. "It's a measure of the respect that the people of the county have for the tribe and their efforts." Along with almost unanimous support at Pleasant Point, where the vote was 268 to 10, and Indian Township, where it was 286 to 9, there were strong favorable votes in Calais (80%), Baileyville (79%), Eastport (72%) and most other county towns.

Although the statewide vote was close, racino opponents believe that Maine lawmakers should pay attention to the results. "It sends a strong message that Maine people are suspicious, at worst, and opposed to, at best, slot machines in Maine," says Dennis Bailey of CasinosNo!, which led the opposition effort. "I hope Augusta hears that message." Noting that this has been his fifth campaign opposing slot machines in the state, Bailey would like to see an end to the efforts to bring gambling to the state. "I hope we could put CasinosNo! out of business," he says. "I'd like to see us stop and get on with real economic development efforts."

As for whether the tribe would seek to bring forth another gambling proposal, Doyle says, "Probably not right away, but we won't dismiss it as a possibility down the road sometime." The tribe has been working on either casino or racino efforts over the past 15 years.

Concerning a racino proposal for Saint John, which was announced on November 2, both Doyle and Raye are suspicious of the timing of the announcement four days before Maine's election. Noting that the Saint John proposal has been considered for a number of years, they believe that the announcement was timed to affect the Maine vote, although they're not sure whether it did.

Raye and Doyle also wonder why Maine voters, in 2003, supported a referendum that allowed for building of a racino in Bangor, while voters opposed the racino plan put forth by the tribe this year. "It seems like every time the tribe goes to work with the state government on a proposal they find something wrong with it. But it's allowed somewhere else. It's not fair," says Doyle. "It makes us wonder whether they do appreciate the Native people." He believes racism played some role in the vote against the racino.

Bailey agrees with supporters of the tribe's racino proposal that it is unfair that one group is allowed to have slot machines in the state while another is not. Although CasinosNo! has not joined the effort to repeal the state law that allows for slot machines at harness racing tracks, Bailey says, "If the tribe would like to join with us to repeal the law we're all ears." He adds, "We could do it. People do recognize the unfairness."

Raye, in turn, offers a challenge to CasinosNo! "Those who fought so hard to deprive Washington County and the Passamaquoddys of this opportunity have a responsibility to work with us on pursuing alternatives," he says.

Bailey responds, "I would join in any effort to help Washington County C or any place in the state." He notes that he did for a time work on the Quoddy Bay LNG proposal, but he adds, "One person's economic development is another person's poison." He believes Washington County does have potential with ecotourism, wind power and LNG, along with natural resource-based industries such as blueberries and fisheries. However, he believes the county is lacking in leadership, and he doesn't agree that slot machines are economic development.

Doyle and Raye agree that work needs to continue on other economic initiatives. "We need to dust ourselves off and pick ourselves up and move forward and remain determined to improve the economy," says Raye. "It's not going to keep us down very long," says Doyle, adding that the tribe will continue pursuing other projects, including tidal, wind and liquefied natural gas (LNG). "The tribe's not going to give up. We've been here for 10,000 years. This is our home, and we will try to make a better living for ourselves and the people of Washington County."

Raye says, "We need to figure out what's next. But we don't need an additional study." Noting that he spent seven months in 2005 and 2006 working on the governor's economic development task force for Washington County and that its recommendations were ignored, he says, "The time for study is past. The only thing acceptable is concrete action."