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Saturday, August 27, 2005
Conservatives lending a hand to foes of slots
Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||
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Two conservative Christian groups with a strong record of gathering petition signatures in Maine will try to revive a campaign to force a statewide vote next year on banning slot machines. The Christian Civic League of Maine and Maine Grassroots Coalition are working with No Slots for ME!, a group trying to collect 50,519 signatures to force the referendum. The three groups rallied in Bangor on Friday and plan to hold meetings in northern Maine and Down East communities this weekend. No Slots for ME! is an estimated 25,000 signatures short of the needed amount and has only a month left before state permission to circulate petitions runs out. The anti-gambling group has been working for 11 months to try to collect enough signatures. "We think this is a significant development," said Douglas Muir, a member of the steering committee for No Slots for ME!. The addition of the Christian Civic League and Maine Grassroots Coalition gives No Slots for ME! experienced allies that have volunteers, campaign experience and a network of contacts in 200 evangelical churches across Maine. Earlier this year, the two Christian groups collected almost 57,000 signatures in less than 90 days to force a statewide vote in November on whether to repeal a new law that forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation. They had similar success in past years. "We think it is realistic," said Michael Heath, executive director of the league, of the latest petition drive. The Christian Civic League has worked against gambling proposals in the past, including two statewide referendums in 2003 and legislation in the 1990s to allow a casino in Calais. But the league and coalition have been less active in this latest push to curb gambling. Members have been collecting signatures, but their focus until mid-summer was on the petition drive to force a vote on the anti-discrimination law. Heath said September provides an opening before the campaign over the gay-rights law heats up. Churches that he is contacting are enthusiastic about the slots petition drive and feel they can collect enough signatures, he said. "We have an organizational structure that is prepared to help," said Paul Madore, executive director of Maine Grassroots Coalition. If successful, the ballot question would continue the debate in Maine over gambling. The only place slot machines are allowed is in Bangor. Penn National Gaming plans to open a temporary parlor with 475 machines this fall and later create a permanent facility at Bangor Raceway. Penn National Gaming officials could not be reached for comment. The continued push to ban slots comes as Bangor looks to gambling as a tool to develop the local economy, increase tax revenue and restore the aging Bangor Auditorium. Frank Farrington, chairman of the City Council, said the city wants a chance to let Penn National start, and the continued opposition is frustrating for the community. "I do think there is frustration. I would say irritated frustration with people from away meddling with our business," Farrington said. The state's largest anti- gambling group has concerns whether this is the right time for a challenge to existing law. Members of Casinos No! fear that a loss at the polls on the question of banning slots could be construed as popular support for more slots in Maine, said Dennis Bailey, executive director of Casinos No!. "I would rather isolate (the Bangor) racino and prevent others from popping up instead of risking full, statewide proliferation," Bailey said. Muir said that although the Christian Civic League and Grassroots Coalition has taken a strong stance on gay rights, that should not affect the campaign against slots. No Slots for ME! has drawn from a variety of political parties and interest groups. The only unifying factor is stopping slots, he said.
Staff Writer Mark Peters can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:
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