York overwhelmingly rejects casino concept

YORK – Residents of York soundly rejected the idea of legalized casino gambling in a nonbinding referendum held during the weekend.

Saturday’s vote to gauge local sentiment on the issue was 3,057 against casinos and 767 to allow them.

The question posed to York voters, which was among 107 items on the local ballot, said, “Do you favor legalized casino gambling in southern Maine?”

York, which has a population of about 13,000, was the second town to poll its residents on the casino issue.

Voters in Berwick opposed casino gambling by a 302-172 tally, and other towns, including Eliot, North Berwick, Wells and Kittery, are scheduled to poll their residents on the issue.

Many of the items on York’s lengthy ballot Saturday dealt with town finances, including a $21 million school budget.

But much of the interest has focused on the casino issue, which follows a proposal by two Maine Indian tribes to build a Foxwoods-style resort and casino in southern Maine.

Casino opponent Mary Black Andrews had forecast an overwhelming vote against casinos. Andrews had said that, depending on the outcome, she would ask the town to pass a zoning change barring casinos, as the Kittery Town Council did last month.

Voters stood in long lines so they could vote, and counting went on until late into the night.

“It was mobbed,” said Andrews, co-chairman of the group Casinos No!

While York and Berwick voters have registered their opposition to casinos, several towns in the region say they are open to the idea.

Some local officials in Sanford, Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach have endorsed the idea.

Casino gambling had become an issue in the open race for Maine governor. Andrews’ group is asking all state House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates to pledge not to vote for a change in state law that would allow casino gambling.