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New Debate Takes Over Maine Town

SANFORD, Maine – As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "On the morning after one of the most memorable election nights this town has seen, many of the lawn signs were still standing even though the debate over a proposed Indian casino here was all but over. But there was a new debate to take its place.

"`What was the difference?' asked a mildly irked Tanje Burby from behind the counter at the Lil' General Store in Sanford, where voters - like their counterparts statewide - rejected the Indian casino but approved a similar initiative to put slot machines at the state's two harness racing tracks.

"…Outside Bangor area polls Tuesday, the reasons voters gave for approving one proposal and not the other were varied, but in many cases boiled down to the idea that small gambling was better than big gambling.

"…Still reeling but in some ways not surprised by the lopsided defeat, tribal leaders reached Wednesday expressed regret in the fervent opposition of some the state's most powerful political figures to what was billed as a job creation plan.

"These same forces - including the likes of Gov. John Baldacci and former Gov. Angus King - did little to derail the racino plan, casino backers complained.

"…[Passamaquoddy state Rep. Fred Moore III said,]`They don't oppose gambling, they oppose tribal casinos, anything that the tribe is going to benefit from.'

"…Anti-casino forces rejected charges of racism.

"…Jim Melcher, a University of Maine political science professor, credited some of Question 2's success to a virtually unchallenged campaign able to avoid references to gambling while stressing the plan's agricultural connections…"

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