Opponents of Kittery proposal form Casinos No!

YORK – Those opposed to opening a casino in Maine say they won’t wait until next year to organize and fight future efforts to build a Foxwoods-style resort in Kittery.

Casino supporters have decided to delay seeking approval for a gambling operation until next year. But a new group called “Casinos No!” is organizing now to oppose any future proposals.

“We’re pleased they’re not going to submit a bill now, but there’s a lot to look at for next year,” said James Bartlett, an attorney in York and spokesman for Casinos No! “I’m sure this looks like a ‘not in my back yard’ thing, but our position is it doesn’t belong anywhere in Maine.”

Bartlett and state Rep. Mary Andrews, R-York, are co-chairmen of the bipartisan organization that will hold its first meeting Sunday.

Casinos No! is among the first organized local opposition to the proposal by the state’s Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a $500 million casino in Kittery.

Casino backers, who floated their idea in the waning hours of the legislative session, announced Monday they would hold off pursuing their plan until next year. By then, Gov. Angus S. King, who is strongly opposed to casinos, will be out of office. Casino supporters are pinning their hopes on King’s successor.

The decision of casino backers to delay their plan actually makes it more important to organize against it, Bartlett said, because King’s successor could give the casino the political support it needs.

The casino plan will become an important campaign issue this year.

Twelve people have notified the state’s ethics commission they are raising money with an eye toward becoming candidates for governor. Of the 12, only two – Republicans John Hathaway and James Libby – have said outright they would veto a casino bill.

U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, D-Maine, who is campaigning for governor, said he’s keeping an open mind on the casino issue even though he thinks there are more effective economic-development tools for the tribes.

Tom Tureen, the Portland lawyer leading the tribal casino efforts, said Tuesday the proposed casino complex will fly or fall of its own weight.

“As I’ve said all along, if it’s a good idea, it’ll be approved,” Tureen said. “We will have to make our case and we’re determined that if this is going to be built, that it’s done well. But we’ll go through the normal process,” he added.