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Maine Gubernatorial Candidates Mainly in Opposition to Casinos

Posted on October 16th, 2010

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Election Day in the US will not only allow the residents to choose their local and state officials, it would also let them decide on some issues that will be included ontheir ballot. For a number of states, this would include deciding whether they would let casinos or some gambling facility be operated in their state. For the voters of the state of Maine, the coming November elections will be their sixth time to decide whether they would approve a casino or any other gambling facility in their area. For those five occasions, the residents of Maine did not approve of four projects. They have only said yes to one, giving their approval to what would become Hollywood Casinos in the city of Bangor, which opened in 2003.

The proposals for gambling facilities, in anticipation of a yes vote in November, have been increasing despite the low success rate so far. The projects are promising to be directed to the areas in Maine where economic opportunities have not been so far successful. The November 2 ballot will ask as question number 1 whether the voter agrees to have a casino in Oxford County. This is the second time the particular county has been the subject of a casino vote. During the last time, the people of Oxford County did approve of the casino, while the rest of the state did not, letting the proposal go to waste. Another casino proposal is set to be decided on by the state’s voters by next year. The governors of the state have been staunch opponents of against gambling, be it casinos or other forms of expanded gambling.

Former holders of the position, Angus King and John McKernan, as well as the present governor, John Baldacci have been in opposition of gambling in Maine. This has posed a problem for casino backers time and again, as a voter decision should not be necessary anymore if the state Legislature approve of this. But time and again, the governors, including Baldacci, have vetoed all legislative proposals for expanded gambling, thus necessitating the public vote.

With the trend of casino proposals ever increasing, it will be most likely that whoever will succeed Governor Baldacci will also face the same concern, and would have to decide on whether to side with those in favor or with against the casino measure. On one side would be casino opponents who claim that gambling facilities do not really foster development in the state’s economy, as they are only venues that facilitate the transfer of money from the pockets of gamblers of the state to the pockets of gambling facility owners and operators, who most of the time are not based in Maine. This causes revenues to be shipped out of the state, shrinking its economy. On the other hand, casino proponents claim that a casino or a gambling facility uses the two arguments that all other casino supporters all across the country have used: employment generation and revenue to be used in state and local programs.

The gubernatorial candidates have established their stand on gambling and have this to say about casinos:

•Independent candidate Kevin Smith says that casinos are inevitable to Maine, although he is against them. He wants to have legislation passed on how gambling facilities will be built and regulated. He wants the casino revenues to be spent on education programs alone.

•Another independent candidate, Shawn Moody, would rather let the Maine economy grow through “traditional ways,” with homegrown industries. He did say that he will not veto any legislation about casinos though.

•Libby Mitchell, the Democrat candidate, does not support casinos as well, because she does not want another casino to compete with the already existing one in Bangor. Moreover, she is one of those who believe that casinos send money outside the state instead of retaining it inside the state.

•Paul LePage, the Republican candidate claims that he does not engage in gambling, but will not let his personal choices influence whatever decision he needs to do in being governor.

•John Jenkins, another independent candidate, is an opponent of casino on moral grounds.

•Eliot Cutler, an independent, said, “I don’t think casinos build Maine’s economy in tourism or any respect.”