By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Residents weighed in on a proposed plan to build a $125 million Biddeford Downs racino and racetrack complex during an emotional forum Monday night at City Theater. 

Scarborough Downs Owner Sharon Terry and Ocean Properties Ltd. in the past week revealed new details about a plan to relocate the harness racing track to Biddeford and build a racino and entertainment complex. If approved by Biddeford voters Nov. 2, the complex will be located on an 88-acre parcel of city-owned land on Andrews Road. 

City officials say the racino would bring 500 jobs and millions of dollars in tax and gaming revenue to the city and position Biddeford as a tourist destination. Opponents question whether the facility is a good fit for Biddeford and say racinos bring crime and gambling addiction. 

The public forum Monday night was designed to provide information to voters about the plan and answer questions, Mayor Joanne Twomey said. She sat on stage with representatives from Scarborough Downs, Ocean Properties and the harness racing industry while residents asked questions and voiced support and opposition to the plan.

The discussion became emotional at times with outbursts of applause and audience members yelling for people to ask their question. About 200 people filled City Theater, many wearing “Yes for Jobs” stickers handed out by project representatives. 

Sue Grant of Biddeford cried as she told the audience how Biddeford Downs will help her family. She said her husband lost his job in 2008 and she had to cut back on work as an equine therapist because of gas prices. She said she would be able to begin that work again in Biddeford if the project is approved. 

“My question is: Where do I pick up my Yes on 1 sign?” she said. 

Tom Du Bois, a third generation harness racer from Biddeford, said supporting harness racing benefits not only horse owners, but the people who grow hay and grain and provide services to the industry. 

Dot Cook, who worked at WestPoint Stevens for 42 years, said she takes the bus to Foxwoods in Connecticut each month along with other Biddeford residents. 

“I know if this is not right for Biddeford, [Twomey] will not go forward with it,” she said. “We cannot afford to say no to this.”

Former City Councilor Kyle Noble wore a bright orange “No” button as he questioned who the third partner in the plan would be. A third partner will be needed because Scarborough Downs and Ocean Properties don’t have experience running slot machines, he said. 

Rich Ade of Ocean Properties said the company will hire employees with experience in gaming and there will be no “silent partner.” He said the company is not interested in bringing in a company such as Penn National, which runs slot machines at the Hollywood Slots in Bangor. 

Rick Ouellette, a lifelong Biddeford resident, compared the plan to the arrival of Maine Energy Recovery Co., which people at one time thought was a great thing for the city, he said. 

“If this is so good, why doesn’t Scarborough want it?” he asked. “What do Scarborough residents know that Biddeford doesn’t?”

Scarborough voters twice rejected proposals to build a racino, prompting Terry to look for another community for the facility.

Ken Putney of Biddeford said city officials and developers were using “fuzzy math” to project how the city will benefit from taxes and gaming revenue. Other speakers questioned the morality of a racino and were concerned about building on land used by hunters. 

At a press conference last week in downtown Mechanics Park, Twomey and representatives from the project described a “first class” facility that will help save the harness racing industry. Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson said the anticipated tax benefit to the city is $5 million annually, with $30 million in taxes paid to the state. 

The project would create 500 permanent full-time jobs, as well as construction jobs, according to project representatives. The average salary and benefits for each employee is $35,000. Scarborough Downs currently employs about 100 people.

Terry said both the Downs and Biddeford will benefit from the project with the creation of new jobs and by generating needed revenue for the harness racing industry. 

In 2003, Maine voters approved slot machines at commercial tracks in Scarborough and Bangor to help save the harness racing industry. Hollywood Slots in Bangor opened in 2005 and the average purse size has since nearly doubled. 

Drew Campbell, a horse owner and trainer, said revenue from Hollywood Slots is making the industry stronger. He said at the press conference he would “like to have beautiful Biddeford be part of the business.” 

Tom Varley, senior vice president for operations for Ocean Properties, said company founder Tom Walsh has a long connection to harness racing and is committed to helping the industry survive. 

“Tom really believes this is an industry worth saving,” he said. 

City Councilor Bob Mills and David Bourque said following the press conference they support the plan to build Biddeford Downs. They traveled with other councilors and Twomey to Bangor last week to tour Hollywood Slots and talk to city officials. They were both impressed by the facility and reassured there was no increase in crime in Bangor after the racino opened. 

“I think it’s going to be great for the city. We really need the jobs,” Bourque said. 

Councilor Clement Fleurent, who is morally opposed to gambling, also traveled to Bangor and said Hollywood Slots is a “first-class joint.” Still, he said, his lasting impression is of people streaming in and out of the racino without smiles on their faces. He said he doubts as many jobs will be created as are being promised. 

“It doesn’t belong in Biddeford,” he said. “It’s not as rosy as they paint it.”
  Twomey has said repeatedly she supports the project because of jobs it will bring to the city. She said she wants people to understand she has made no promises and signed no agreements with project developers.

“What this vote is about is to let me move on to the second stage,” she said. 

If Biddeford voters say yes to the project on Nov. 2, the plan needs a change in state law through Legislative action or a citizen initiative, said Ed McCall, attorney for Scarborough Downs. If an Oxford County casino is approved by voters in November, a fix would also be required because that plan would limit other gambling facilities within 100 miles. McCall said he is confident both changes will be made without a problem. 

If approved by voters, the proposed project will have to make its way through the planning board process and is subject to contracts and financial negotiations with the city council. 

City officials said they will continue to post updated information about the proposal on the city website, where residents also can submit questions. 

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.