Maine’s Harness Racing Commission has the opportunity to slow the headlong rush of a racino developer into the state. Commissioners should take it.

In a hearing that was scheduled to begin Monday but was postponed due to the weather and continuing through Wednesday, the commission will consider whether to grant Shawn Scott a license to run harness races at Bangor Historic Track. Scott’s real interest is in bringing thousands of slot machines to Maine, but, according to a referendum approved by voters Nov. 4, he needs to have a racing license first.

Agreements between the harness racing industry and Scott made before the election bind the two in a marriage of convenience with slot machines as the hoped for offspring.

Gov. John Baldacci was a vocal opponent of opening up the state to slots, and he has proposed significant changes to the authorizing legislation that would give the state more authority over racino operations. The final draft of the legislation has not been made public, but the Legislature is expected to consider the changes when the new session begins in January.

Harness racing commissioners are appointed by the governor, but it remains to be seen just how much pressure he can bring to bear on them.

Scott has broken ground on his slot palace in Bangor and wants the gambling machines installed as soon as possible. But even the timing of the slots law is in dispute. Scott’s people say it takes affect Jan. 3, while the Baldacci administration says the law only authorizes slots 45 days after the Legislature convenes.

Harness racing commissioners would serve the state well if they did not rush to grant Scott his racing license. A pause to work out the biggest problems in the law is reasonable.


Release report


Auburn is hunkering down and trying to weather the storm that has surrounded the city since the arrest of Mayor Norm Guay in August.

The city hired a Portland law firm to investigate the arrest, and City Manager Pat Finnigan released her summary of the findings. She accused the police of abuse of power and targeting the mayor in retaliation for difficult labor negotiations between the city and the police union.

But she has refused to release the actual report, citing the confidentiality rights of the officers she has publicly accused of wrongdoing. She says the report must remain confidential because disciplinary action could be taken against some officers.

Members of the police department have signed waivers backing the release of the findings.

Chief of Police Richard Small has launched his own investigation, raising the question of whether the original inquiry was necessary, justified and can be used as the basis for any intradepartmental actions.

The Sun Journal is suing the city for the release of the report. The first hearing in that case is today.

When the city manager accuses the police department of abusing its power, only a complete airing of the evidence can restore the public’s confidence in its government.

Obviously, the city isn’t trying to protect the cops. They’ve already been hung out to dry. What’s in that report that makes it such a big secret?


[email protected]