PORTLAND (AP) – While Shawn Scott obtained an agreement requiring industry officials to support his slot machine proposal in Bangor, a political action committee tied to one of his companies is undermining Scarborough Downs’ attempts to create a so-called racino.

The PAC, Good Morals for Maine, registered with the state Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices on Oct. 31. The registration form bears a fax number showing it originated in Las Vegas.

The fax number matches a number on a separate form filed with the ethics commission in October by the Maine Coalition for Racing and Slots, a political action committee that supported the Nov. 4 racino referendum.

The latter’s campaign finance reports show it was funded by Capital One LLC, a subsidiary of Capital Seven. Both are owned by racino developer Shawn Scott of Las Vegas, who owns a share of Bangor Historic Raceway, the company that wants to operate a racino at Bangor Raceway, the Portland Press Herald reported.

Members of the Maine harness racing industry said Monday they were surprised and dismayed at the apparent connection between Scott and the campaign to halt the Scarborough Downs racino.

Scott, Scarborough Downs, the harness racing industry and the owners of Maine’s off-track betting parlors had reached a formal written agreement this fall to work together for racinos in Bangor and Scarborough.

“I am very disappointed and this is certainly a regrettable circumstance,” said William Hathaway, executive secretary of the Maine Harness Horseman’s Association.

Scott did not return phone calls Monday and last week.

Good Morals for Maine emerged on the political landscape just four days before the Nov. 4 election.

Voters approved the statewide racino measure, but Scarborough residents defeated a local question to allow a racino in their town. Under the racino law, Scarborough Downs has until Dec. 31 to find a location within five miles of the existing racetrack in a community that supports a racino.

When Scarborough Downs approached Saco officials about opening a racino in their city, Good Morals for Maine purchased full-page newspaper political ads and aired radio spots urging voters to oppose the plan. The Saco City Council rejected the racino idea last week.

Scarborough Downs is now talking with the Westbrook City Council about opening a racino. Good Morals for Maine purchased more newspaper ads on Monday, calling on Westbrook voters to oppose the plan for their community.

“Gambling interests are lobbying your councilors for a referendum in late December, possibly on Christmas Eve,” the ad said.

Scott’s mother, Victoria Scott, purchased an option on 69 acres of land in Saco while Scarborough Downs was also seeking land and political support in that city. Scarborough Downs officials were talking about a potential partnership with Scott but the partnership fell through.

Edward MacColl, Scarborough Downs’ lawyer, said the relationship with Scott got off to a bad start.

He said he contacted Scott when his lawyer was drafting the racino law to ask that the deadline for seeking local approval be changed from the Dec. 31, 2004 in the draft proposal to Dec. 31, 2005.

That would have given Scarborough Downs more time to try to gain acceptance for slot machines by Scarborough voters.

Scott did change the deadline but not in the manner Scarborough Downs had hoped, said MacColl.

Instead of extending it to 2005, he shortened it to Dec. 31 of this year, prompting a scramble by Scarborough Downs to find another community that’ll agreed to slot machines by year’s end.

AP-ES-11-25-03 1115EST