Passamaquoddys lay groundwork for racino vote

PLEASANT POINT – The Passamaquoddy Tribe wants the same gambling rights as Bangor, and that’s why it is continuing its battle to build a racetrack-casino operation – known as a racino – Down East.

And a battle it will be, all summer long, now that Gov. John Baldacci has vetoed the racino bill. Because the bill originated through a citizen-initiated petition drive, however, the measure now must go before voters in a statewide referendum, which is expected to occur in November.

If the referendum question is approved, the Passamaquoddys hope to build a harness-racing track, along with a casino that would have 1,500 slot machines, the same amount approved for Hollywood Slots at Bangor. There also would be a hotel and conference center.

With the governor’s latest veto, the tribe’s members feel he has turned his back on them yet again. This is not the first tribe-generated gambling bill before the state. In 1997, the courts and Legislature rebuffed the tribe’s effort to operate a gambling casino in Washington County. In 2003, voters in a statewide election gave the nod to Bangor to build a racino, but rejected the tribe’s efforts to build a casino in southern Maine. And in 2005, Baldacci vetoed another racino measure passed by the Legislature.

For months now, the tribe’s most recent racino bill has chugged through the House and Senate, but did not have the two-thirds majority needed to override the governor’s veto. The House approved the measure 84-59, but let the veto stand 92-38.

Tribal state Rep. Donald Soctomah said Monday he was not surprised by the veto.

“What we were trying to get across in the Legislature was that the people of Maine voted to approve a racino concept, they approved enough slot machines for two racinos, and the people have spoken. We just wanted the Legislature to acknowledge that, which they did, and the governor doesn’t want to go along with the people’s vote,” he said.

Statewide, voters turned down a November 2003 citizen-initiated referendum that would have allowed the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation to run a casino. Voters approved a separate initiative in the same election that allowed slot machines “at certain commercial horse racing tracks,” that is, Scarborough Downs and Bangor Raceway. Bangor voters subsequently approved a racino for the city while Scarborough voters rejected one there.

Soctomah said it would cost the tribe money to mount a public relations campaign to counter an anti-racino movement he expects opponents will bankroll.

Referring to the public relations expert behind the previous “Casinos No” campaign, Soctomah said, “All the Dennis Baileys of the world will probably find money somewhere to keep themselves employed as they battle the Indians.”

In response, Bailey said Monday he looked forward to the challenge. “See you in November,” he said. Bailey laughed at Soctomah’s allegation that he was working hard to keep himself employed. “If I was in this for the money, I am on the wrong side,” he said.

Soctomah said the tribe had hoped to avoid an expensive and protracted battle. But he said the tribe’s message was clear: “fairness and economic development.”

Former state Rep. Madonna Soctomah, the current representative’s sister, was less charitable toward the governor than her brother.

“Why wouldn’t he want to have economic development in Washington County when there’s so much unemployment?” she asked.

Madonna Soctomah said that after voters approved the Bangor racino she spoke with Baldacci and recommended that the state partner with the tribe to build the Bangor racino.

“I said that would take away a lot of acrimony and we would keep the money right in the state and everyone would benefit,” she said. Instead the state partnered with an out-of-state company.

She said the governor told her the state had something “bigger and better” coming the tribe’s way. He did not elaborate. Weeks later Soctomah said she read about liquefied natural gas coming to Pleasant Point.

“It was only a month or two later I opened the Bangor Daily [and read the story about LNG]. I won’t tell you what I said. It’s not printable what I said.”

The former tribal representative said she was optimistic voters would support the tribe’s effort. “The economic viability of every county within the state of Maine is a [measure] of how prosperity in the state [is viewed],” she said.

“The governor is committed to economic development in Washington County,” Baldacci’s communication director, David Farmer, said responding to the criticism Monday. “But just like other gambling proposals this one is a substantial increase in the location geographically and the number of slot machines and it needs to be approved by voters. That’s his position all along. We’ve heard the criticism, but frankly in my mind it doesn’t hold water. This is about voters making the ultimate decision.”

Pleasant Point tribal Chief Rick Doyle said Monday the tribe viewed gaming as an “economic opportunity that can be reasonably operated for the benefit of the tribe, all citizens of Washington County and the people of the state of Maine.” He called the proposal the tribe’s destination resort and racino project. He also said the tribe was grateful for the Legislature’s support.

He also said the tribe held “no malice” toward the governor “or anyone else for whatever opinions or beliefs they choose to hold for themselves.”

The next step, the tribal chief said, was to educate and inform voters in the months ahead about the referendum.

The question to face voters, likely in November, will read: “Do you want to allow a Maine tribe to run a harness racing track with slot machines and high-stakes beano games in Washington County?”

“The tribe looks forward to talking with the people of Maine in the coming months about the project and the future of Washington County,” Dole said in a prepared statement. “We also look forward to working with the governor and his office on developing a sustainable economy for Washington County. The tribe has committed to bringing its resources to work collaboratively with our neighbors and friends to begin addressing the economy and other needs of our home county that will create jobs and reduce dependence of state programs.”

Indian Township tribal Chief Billy Nicholas was traveling and unavailable for comment.