CALAIS – Gov. John Baldacci, who is known for his spaghetti feeds, is in the sauce Down East now that he has threatened to veto legislation authorizing a statewide referendum on the proposed tribal commercial track and casino in Washington County.

This hardscrabble county came within inches of having the issue, which would have allowed for 1,500 slot machines at a new commercial harness racing track near the reservations of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, decided by voters in November.

But Baldacci’s announced veto means the tribe has run out of luck this year. Getting a racino Down East has had more hold’ems and fold’ems than a poker game.

Tribal officials were not happy and business owners were shaking their heads Friday.

State tribal Rep. Fred Moore Jr. charged that the governor wasn’t interested in a racino Down East because he wanted the tribe to buy out Penn National Gaming, the company that plans to build a racino in Bangor. “He has been trying to get us to buy out Penn National secretly,” Moore charged. “And you can quote me: It’s his attempt to get us to abandon Washington County.”

The governor’s press secretary denied that charge Friday. “I don’t think the governor is trying to force the tribe to do anything,” Lynn Kippax said.

Kippax said Baldacci was more interested in economic development for Washington County.

“The tribes clearly articulated their goal in this process, to provide for a better quality of life and future for their communities,” Baldacci said in a statement. “I share that goal. Despite my personal opposition to the expansion of casino gaming in Maine, I will continue to work hard with the tribes in pursuit of economic opportunities and improved health of our Native American communities.”

The governor did not articulate what those economic opportunities might be in his statement.

Moore, who introduced LD 1690, said the tribe would continue to fight. “The Passamaquoddy Tribe cannot give up on its effort to gain parity in the gaming industry in this state when tribes all across North America have the same right,” Moore said.

Moore said that when Baldacci ran for governor, he held several spaghetti feeds to help raise money for his campaign. “I hauled his spaghetti sauce from Milbridge to Eastport on more than one occasion,” he said. “The only thing he has brought to Washington County is spaghetti sauce, and he left with money, and he really didn’t give us anything.”

Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, who has helped guide the various racino bills through the Legislature, expressed outrage at Baldacci’s planned veto.

The measure had won overwhelming approval by the Legislature, passing the House 97-48 and the Senate 21-11.

“It has been dizzying trying to follow the governor’s conflicting public statements and twisted logic on this issue,” Raye said. “I am appalled that he raised – and then dashed – the hopes of the people of Washington County, Maine’s Native Americans and our state’s horsemen. His decision to deny Mainers the opportunity to decide this matter at referendum is baffling.”

Calais businessman Dan Hollingdale, who is a longtime Democrat, said he plans to change parties. “I’m a Republican now,” he said. “As a former supporter of Governor Baldacci, it is difficult to admit, along with other voters here in Washington County, we made a big mistake when we judged his sincerity to help us. He wasn’t about to help Washington County.”

Hollingdale said the governor has “written” the county off. “I hope in the next election that Washington County, along with the rest of the state, will write him off,” he said.

Businesswoman Nancy Gillis, a former Calais city councilor, said Baldacci had lost her vote. “I am extremely disappointed. He said he wasn’t going to negotiate with fractions, but he did. He caved in to southern Maine and the voters in southern Maine,” she said.

Ferguson Calder, who owns the Calais Advertiser, said it now was up to local business owners and not politicians to bring economic development to Washington County. Calder invited business leaders to an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting Monday at the Calais Motor Inn to discuss economic development. Baldacci had been invited to attend that meeting, but declined because of a scheduling conflict.