Friday, October 7, 2011

Campaign gets loan by backer of racino

Posted: 12:00 AM
Updated: 9:09 PM

Ocean Properties Ltd. has loaned nearly $780,000 to the Putting Maine to Work ballot question committee.

By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer 

AUGUSTA - The company that hopes to build a racino in southern Maine has loaned the campaign for Question 2 nearly $780,000, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state ethics commission.
Ocean Properties Ltd. of Portsmouth, N.H., is listed as the sole contributor to the Putting Maine to Work ballot question committee, which supports approval of the racino on Nov. 8. It made all of its contributions in the reporting period from July 1 through Sept. 30.

Question 2 will ask voters if they want to "allow a slot machine facility at a harness racing track in Biddeford or another community within 25 miles of Scarborough Downs, subject to local approval, and at a harness racing track in Washington County."

A separate group called The Committee to Save Maine Harness Racing, also backed by Ocean Properties, has spent $50,670 this year to support Question 2. Its fundraising for the period, and for the year, totals $29,383.

Last year, Ocean Properties loaned the committee more than $400,000 to pay for efforts to gather petition signatures for the initiative.

The ballot question is one of two gambling proposals that voters will decide on in November.

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