Bill would empower county to veto casino

PORTLAND – A group of Republican legislators from York County say they will introduce a bill to give the county’s voters veto power over any casino that would be located in the county.

While predicting the Legislature will reject casino gambling, the GOP lawmakers said requiring a countywide referendum in addition to legislative and municipal approvals would further reduce the likelihood of a York County casino.

“We’re all a part of a community, whether as a county or a town, and a casino, with its immense traffic and other problems, would be an issue for the county to address, not just the towns,” said Rep. Ron Collins of Wells, one of five lawmakers listed as potential co-sponsors.

Others include Sen. Ken Lemont of Kittery and Reps. Mary Andrews of York, Robert Daigle of Arundel and Tom Murphy of Kennebunkport. House GOP candidates Dick Brown of South Berwick, JoAnn Lancaster of Kittery, Sally Lewin of Eliot and Oscar Stone of Berwick also signed on to the proposal.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Indian Nation want to build a $500 million casino in southern Maine. Casino gambling is now illegal in Maine.

Eight towns have voted against allowing a casino. Biddeford and Sanford, while Kennebunkport and Wells will vote Nov. 5 on whether to allow casinos.

The proposed bill would allow the county to overrule any community’s decision on a casino through a countywide referendum, legal experts say.

Whether the Legislature will approve a bill giving a county broader powers will be a key question, said Peggy McGehee, a municipal land-use lawyer with Perkins Thompson Hinckley & Keddy in Portland.

“It would involve a fundamental change in governance,” McGehee said. “At this point, a county cannot tell a town what to do and what not to do.”

Erin Lehane, a lawyer and project manager for the tribes, said that a county veto isn’t necessary, and that she sees growing support for a casino, especially in Biddeford and Sanford.