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CLINTON – The Maine Building Trades Council is taking aim at Gov. John Baldacci over his opposition to a proposed $650 million casino with a Labor Day radio blitz focusing on the need for jobs.
The radio ads airing over the holiday weekend focus on Baldacci’s comment in the Bangor Daily News that Maine’s work force cannot fill the 10,000 jobs that would be created if state voters approve a casino.
The governor is taken to task in the 30-second radio spot by an unemployed resident of Sanford, where the casino would be located.
“The truth is thousands of Maine people are hurting right now. The casino would mean opportunity for our working families, and nobody should be against that, especially our governor,” Felix Goodrich said in the ad.
Goodrich, who lost his job last May, said he’s one of thousands of Mainers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. “For me, the casino could be a chance to find a new job and get a fresh start,” he said.
Baldacci said Friday the ads misrepresented his position with the suggestion that he’s against good-paying jobs.
The governor said he recognizes the short-term benefits of good-paying construction jobs in Maine.
He said his opposition has to do with the long-term consequences of a casino and resort. He said he’s worried about the ripple effect of the casino on the economy and health and social services.
Rod Gillespie, president of the Maine Building Trades Council, said he finds it hard to fathom that the governor would oppose a casino after “thousands of Mainers have lost jobs as mills have closed, industries have moved and our economy has faltered.”
“It is hard to believe that after seeing all that happen on his watch, our own governor would say that he thinks finally bringing in a lot of new jobs would be a bad thing,” he said.
Baldacci said the first thing he did as governor was to promote a jobs bond and he continues to work for “balanced growth and good-paying jobs throughout the state of Maine.”
“I recognize it’s a political campaign and things are going to be said, whether they’re grounded or not in reality. We agree to disagree about [the concept of a casino],” he said.
Voters will have their say in November on the proposal by the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Indians to build and operate a $650 million casino and resort.
Barry Dana, chief of the Penobscot Nation, said the casino would create 5,000 jobs in Sanford. Another 5,000 jobs would be created by companies that provide goods or services to the casino, he said.
Casino supporters say the 5,000 people directly employed by the casino would receive average wages of $30,000 a year with benefits.
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