LEWISTON – The CasinosNO! campaign officially came to Lewiston Tuesday – just two weeks before the election – to rally people to get out and encourage others to vote against Question 3.

The anti-casino campaign opened an office at 110 Lisbon St. after Jim Wellehan of Auburn donated the space. It will be run by volunteer and former state Sen. Barbara Trafton of Auburn.

Former Gov. Angus King gave a spirited pep talk. He not only bashed the proposed $650 million Indian casino in Sanford, or Question 3, King blasted Question 2, which would allow horse race tracks to have slot machines. “Question 2 is a casino with manure,” he said. “It’s unrestricted in size. The state doesn’t have adequate control. It’s the same idea of something for nothing. It’s a hoax,” he said to a crowd that filled the old store.

King said he came to Lewiston because there’s only two weeks before the election and the campaign is close. Which side wins will be determined by which sides turns out voters, he said.

King offered three reasons for his opposition.

“We’re not voting on the idea of a casino. We’re voting on an 18-page, single-spaced law” written by the lawyers for the owners of the casino. “Normally a law is written by the Legislature with committees and hearings and compromises and arguments and votes and amendments and everything else. Not this one,” he said. And, if passed Maine would be locked into the law for 20 years unless the tribes agree, King said. “I don’t care if it’s the speed on the Maine Turnpike. We shouldn’t be turning over the legislative authority of the state to somebody else,” King said provoking applause.

Secondly, there’s a lot of “unpleasant stuff” in the proposed law, King said. He read aloud one provision that stated the law must be liberally construed in favor of gaming on behalf of the tribes. “What that means is, when in doubt, the tribes win.”

King read other parts of the bill, including one section that would allow the casino to offer patrons “any consideration” for gambling, such as free or reduced prices on goods and services. “Know what that means?” King asked. “Free booze for compulsive gamblers. Isn’t that gross!” he said.

The pro-casino campaign has spent $4 million telling Maine people how bad the job climate is. “Yes, we have unemployment. Yes we have lost manufacturing jobs,” King said. “But the idea that the only way you can gain jobs is by building a casino is bunk.” The answer is what Gov. John Baldacci is working on: tax reform, education, research and development and international trade, King said.

If voters reject both Question 2 and 3, maybe casino developers “will leave Maine alone,” King said.

Among those who came and wore a “No on 3” button was Dick Kendall of Auburn, chairman of the board of Chipco, a Raymond company that makes casino chips. His son’s company could make more money if the referendum passes, Kendall said. “But I don’t think this is a good deal for Maine. I’d rather not have it in Maine.”

YWCA retiree Tonie Ramsey of Auburn, a campaign volunteer, was another who attended. She said she’s delighted that a campaign office is open in Lewiston. “The visibility is going to be excellent for the community.” Casino supporters have this “get rich quick” philosophy, “but it doesn’t work,” Ramsey said. “That’s not the real world.”

The office will be open at least from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, Trafton said.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

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