CALAIS, Maine — A Las Vegas developer’s desire to build a casino in Oxford County has some people here betting it will pass while others are hoping the gambling company from “away” will roll snake eyes.
Some of the hard feelings here are due to the defeat of an effort last year to build a tribal racetrack casino on a 700-acre site in Calais.
The Passamaquoddy Tribe’s was narrowly defeated 6,193 to 5,949 statewide. The town of Oxford voted 323-306 against the tribe.
In Calais, North Street businessman Rod Tirrell is opposed to Question 2.
“I am still sour that it didn’t happen here. We don’t get the support from some of the southern Maine people and when it comes time when they want one they expect us to support them. They probably don’t need our vote to carry it, but we still have a vote,” he said.
Marilyn Berardini, who operates a business on Main Street, said she is going to check “no.”
“I don’t think they should have one. If we weren’t allowed to have a casino here I don’t see why they should have one in Oxford County, and I would vote against it,” she said.
Several business owners who asked not to be identified also said they would oppose Question 2.
“Hell, if we can’t have it here, they can’t have it there,” one man said.
Pat LaMarche, Maine spokeswoman for Olympia Gaming, said it was too bad that some people in Calais were opposed to the Oxford casino.
“I completely understand that they feel that way. But I think it is a real marvel of the opposition to get the poorest people, who need each other the most, to fight each other instead of fighting the real bad thing which is the people from away,” she said, referring to people from outside Maine who donated money to the anti-gambling group CasinosNO!
“I feel awfully bad if Washington County feels that way because we will do everything in our power to help Washington County succeed,” she said. “I know I will.”
Not all in Calais are opposed.
“The trouble with the state as a whole is there is always one legion fighting against the other,” Calais lawyer John Mitchell said. “If everybody keeps voting against everything we will never get anything. Any business hoping to invest in gaming should be allowed to do so,” he said.
Businesswoman Linsey Hightower said that even though Oxford County had voted against the Washington County effort, she did not feel it was fair to vote against them.
“I think if it is going to help them, it should do that,” she said. “But I had wished they hadn’t voted us down ... and Washington County has a hard time as it is. We need a calling card. We need something here.”
The Passamaquoddy governors and councilors are awaiting the outcome of the Nov. 4 vote.
Donald Soctomah, who is the state tribal representative for Indian Township and Pleasant Point, said Tuesday the tribe had not yet taken a stand on the Oxford casino question, but said he personally was recommending people vote against it.
“We had the same proposal for that same area and we were run out of the county there,” Soctomah said.
Dennis Bailey of CasinosNO!, which also opposed the Passamaquoddy plan in 2007, said if voters approve the Oxford casino this year, the tribe had a right to be upset.
“They’ve tried this for 20 years and then we turn around and give this to some stranger from Vegas?” he said. “They have every right in the world to be miffed.”
On 10/24/08 at 7:08 AM,
pjlogan wrote:
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I feel bad that each tribe has not been succesful in thier attempts for gaming. However it should also be noted that both tribes had the opportunity to partner up on this proposal but declined citing thier intent to pursue gaming and other interests on thier own. If this referendum is defeated, it will close the lid on future gaming expansion for many years, the quickest way for the tribes to get something on Indian Island or in Washington County is to supoort this referendum.
On 10/24/08 at 7:44 AM,
MrNixxon wrote:
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"“I feel awfully bad if Washington County feels that way because we will do everything in our power to help Washington County succeed,” she said." Ms. LaMarche is a typical poltician. Blow smoke up evryones tailpipe and hope no one calls her bluff. Dennis Bailey is...well, Dennis Bailey. Faceit. This part of the state has little population. Those down at the southern part are more vocal and, being more affluent, run in the right social circles to have their voices heard. As the old saying goes, the squeeky whell gets the grease. Although up here in the real downesat we tighten up the screws before spending money on expensive grease. Perhaps a tit-for-tat sort of thing.
On 10/24/08 at 7:45 AM,
MrNixxon wrote:
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I hate finding typos after I hit the post button
On 10/24/08 at 8:34 AM,
misslepew wrote:
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I plan to vote "NO" especially after reading this article and finding out they voted no to Washington County...
On 10/24/08 at 8:54 AM,
sewmama wrote:
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I will vote NO. I'm sick to death of people like Ms. LarMarche saying she would do anything to see us succeed. No one gives a hoot about Downeast Maine. They know we are poor and they want to keep us that way. I have never been to a casino and probably never will even if it was in my back yard but the fact is everything is a flat out no to anything this area wants but the next thing you know down state is getting it.
On 10/24/08 at 9:14 AM,
PabMainer wrote:
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Vote NO! good people of Downeast and Northern Maine or you will never see such a facility built in your areas of our State!
On 10/24/08 at 9:23 AM,
kylie00 wrote:
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Lamarche is full of bull-shit , she has no intention on helping washington and hancock counties. And the way it is worded it seems like they will have a exclusive on the only casino in Maine. Why is it southern Maine has to get the jobs. Not the gambling sites are productive but still it is work. The heck with them and I`m voting no. GIVE US JOBS OR GIVE US ?????????????????
On 10/25/08 at 10:54 AM,
Kognos wrote:
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Voting no here. Washington County needs the draw more than Oxford. It will really come down to how much money this company throws around, it's no real secret that our state doesn't have the checks and balances on our public officials that other states do. If this company greases the right palms they'll get their casino, the Passamaquoddy's didn't have enough money.
On 10/25/08 at 7:10 PM,
rdelnicki wrote:
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I'm not opposed to a casino in Oxford County just because King John got his racino in Bangor, and we repeated get voted down. I'm opposed to the wording on the ballot and the claim that the wording will be "changed after it's voted in." What are the odds of that? Hmmmmm- to go along with that thought, I have a parcel of ocean front property in Arizona that would be a grand spot for their casino. And after it's built, we can move it to Maine. Do you really think if the "ONLY " casino gets voted in, things will change later? I don't.
On 10/27/08 at 9:20 AM,
tinasalvo wrote:
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The State of Maine needs a Casino! Who cares Where the location is ! Overall the state of MAINE will benefit from it! Everyone WINS! Perfect example : FOXWOODS CONN. They do not have a problem! The PASSAMAQUODDY TRIBE should recieve votes for a CASINO! PLEASANT POINT IS A POVERTY STRICKEN AREA IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP! CASINO IS THE WAY TO GO! TINA SALVO BOSTON ,MA
On 10/27/08 at 8:01 PM,
Tellie wrote:
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I think we may be missing a point here: passing question 2 will also lower the gambling age to 19. Let's let the poor guys keep their money until they are at least 21. LaMarche says that it will be possible to change the age AFTER we pass it. Let's get realistic, once the casino is passed, no one is going to bother to go back and rehash the faulty deal. Vote no on Question 2. Also, I can't help but vote no on another level. No casino for us, no casino for you. You rub our back and we'll rub yours. No dice on Question 2.
On 10/28/08 at 6:32 AM,
tinasalvo wrote:
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CASINOS DO HAVE AN AGE LIMIT ! LETS FACE IT IF THE POOR GUYS NEED TO GO TO A CASINO THERE IS BANGOR SLOTS RUN BY LAS VEGAS! CONN.CASINO ARE DOING FINE! THE PASSAMAQUODDY TRIBE WILL INDEED HAVE JOBS INSTEAD OF WONDERING WHEN THE NEXT BUS WILL DRIVE BY THE PLEASANT POINT RESERVATION! TINA SALVO BOSTON ,MA
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