OXFORD — Members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee voted Thursday to buy ads encouraging people to vote against two casino proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The group of Oxford businessmen are opposed to Questions 2 and 3 on the ballot, which would allow new casinos in Biddeford, Lewiston and Washington County.
Tom Kennison, who chairs the committee, said more casinos could harm the business of established casinos in Bangor and Oxford. He said with no funding in the referendums for state education in the proposed casinos, existing casinos could lose revenue and education could lose a portion of the money it receives from casino revenue.
“For every dollar that’s taken out of there to another facility that’s not tied to the education fund, that’s money that could come out,” Kennison said.
Town Manager Michael Chammings said there is some support in town for the casino referendums. “There’s no education out there — no one saying to our townspeople, ‘This isn’t good for Oxford County.’”
The committee voted to allocate $3,000 for newspaper ads. Tom Kennison will write the copy.
Other members of the committee at the meeting were Caldwell Jackson and Dan O’Neill. Absent were Ron Kugell and Dennis Fournier.
treaves@sunjournal.com
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