"The ballot will tell you one thing, but the people behind the latest casino referendum are saying something else. If voters want to make sure they know what they are voting on next November, they should be paying attention to both.

The citizen intitiated ballot measure that will ask Mainers for the fourth time in six years whether they want to expand gambling in Maine talks about a single project, a casino resort to be built in Oxford County.

Peter Martin, the spokesman for Black Bear Entertainment, delivered the message that the hopes of expanding gambling Downeast rest on its success moving into western Maine.

"We believe that if Oxford County fails, it will be game over for Washington County," Martin told the Bangor Daily News.

"However, if we win, we believe the Passamaquoddy tribe will be granted permission for a casino at the next legislative session. Our win is their win."

So, in other words, the ballot may say one thing, but it will mean something else.

Martin's comments may just be political fence-mending. The Oxford County supporters pushed to stop a movement by some in the Legislature to piggyback on the same ballot as their question with a competing measure, which would have expanded gambling operations by the Passamaquoddy tribe."

Get the Story:
Our View: Voters should read between the lines on casino question (The Portland Press Herald 5/2)