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Elections Leave Two Possible Maine Casino Locations7 November 2002FAIRFIELD, Maine – As reported by the Kennebec Journal: "When the votes were tallied on Election Day, two Maine towns remained in the running as possible hosts for an Indian resort casino — Sanford, in York County, and Fairfield in Somerset County. "York County, according to the director of Think About It, a Portland-based political action committee representing Maine's Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, is closer to Massachusetts and the out-of-state money expected to make up 85 percent of the revenues at a Maine casino. "That part of the state is more attractive to Nevada-based casino backers, said Think About It project coordinator Erin Lehane. "…`Nothing is out of the question,' she said Wednesday. `Clearly, what the tribes are looking for is the export market — bringing in money from out of state.' "…[State Rep. Fred] Moore said tribal leaders also do not rule out a second "satellite" casino, a smaller version of the estimated $600 million resort plan, which a town such as Fairfield might entertain. "Somerset County is more than three hours north of Boston, according to estimates. York County is less than two hours north of Boston. "…Voters in eight other southern Maine communities, including Biddeford, Saco and Kennebunk rejected the idea of bringing a resort casino to their town in separate referendum questions. "At stake, if the Maine Legislature eventually lifts a ban on legalized gambling in the state, casino supporters say, is millions of dollars annually in property taxes and millions more in jobs and revenue sharing from slot machines…" |