Some businesses bet on racino’s rejection

Though supporters of the Nov. 6 statewide referendum on development of a racetrack casino in Washington County promoted the issue as one of economic development, that argument didn’t quite catch on in the state’s business community.

In fact, some businesses and business leaders contributed to the successful campaign by the political action committee CasinosNo! to defeat the proposal.

Business involvement in the issue came to light on Nov. 2, when it was disclosed that discount retailer Marden’s had contributed $10,000 to CasinosNo! Some Washington County residents publicly expressed dismay that Marden’s, which is based in Waterville but has two stores in Calais and others throughout Maine, opposed the measure.

Harold Marden, president of the company, said Thursday that Washington County needs economic help but that casinos aren’t the answer. It is a statewide issue, he said, and Marden’s has opposed other casino proposals in other parts of Maine.

“It’s not true economic development,” Marden said. “It’s addictive. It’s a poor form of entertainment. I think it takes more out of the economy than it puts in.”

Marden said the company’s business in Calais may suffer because of what he called “slanted” media coverage of his company’s contribution to CasinosNo!, but only temporarily. He said he heard of some people throwing rocks at the company’s Calais stores, but as long as the Canadian dollar stays strong he expects Marden’s to benefit from customers coming from across the border.

Marden said he is not sure what the answer might be for economic development in Washington County, but that coal gasification facilities or improved deep-water ports might be possibilities. He said he would be willing to contribute toward an economic development fund for the region.

“We’ll put our money where our mouth is,” Marden said.

Other Maine businesses, and business leaders, donated money to the CasinosNo! campaign.

Tim Hussey, president of Hussey Seating in North Berwick, gave $1,500 to CasinosNo!, even though his company has done business with casinos out of state. Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., Fantasy Springs in Indio, Calif., and Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., are all listed on his company’s Web site as places where Hussey Seating products have been installed.

Hussey defended his support of CasinosNo! and the fact that his company has done business with casinos elsewhere. Casinos are well-established and accepted in other places outside Maine, he said Thursday, but in the state they have not yet become integrated into the statewide economy.

Casinos offer low wages and help to funnel money out of state, according to Hussey. He said he opposed a casino proposal in Sanford in 2003 and was unhappy that Hollywood Slots in Bangor was approved. He said he has not considered supporting any effort to overturn Hollywood Slots’ approval.

“[Casinos] should be the last resort for economic development,” Hussey said. “It’s not something we need here in Maine. [Liquefied natural gas terminals] in Washington County is absolutely something we should be doing.”

There also was a pro-casino “Yes on Question 1” campaign, which was sponsored primarily by the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Besides the tribe, which would have built and operated the facility in Calais, the only other supporter listed on financial disclosure documents as contributing more than $50 to the pro-racino campaign was Newport businessman Greg Lovely. Lovely gave $1,000 to Yes on Question 1 on Oct. 19.

Attempts this week to contact Lovely were unsuccessful.

Dennis Bailey, executive director of CasinosNo!, said Thursday that when it comes to politics many businesses prefer to donate instead of advocate. The role of businesses in opposing the casino wasn’t promoted because it wasn’t part of the strategy CasinosNo! decided to pursue in getting the referendum defeated, he said.

“A lot of businesses want to keep a low profile,” he said. “Look at what happened to Marden’s.”

But Bailey said he thinks the anti-racino campaign benefited from the Marden’s contribution, which was publicized a few days before the vote.

“I think their endorsement helped because they’re a good, solid Maine company,” Bailey said. “But it was tough for them up in Calais.”

Other Maine businesses and business leaders also supported the anti-casino vote. Rubb Building Systems of Sanford gave CasinosNo! $2,000; Northern Data Systems of Falmouth gave $3,000; and Jagger Bros. Inc. of Springvale gave $250, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state.

David Genest, owner of Genest Concrete Works in Sanford, donated $2,000. H. Allen Fernald, owner of Rockport-based Down East magazine, donated $150, while Frederick W. Pape Jr. of Pape Auto in South Portland donated $100.