Casino supporters say there's a simple answer.
Rob Lally, owner of Mount Abram ski area and one of the investors in Black Bear Entertainment, says Atlantic Strategies was hired to manage the petition drive that put the casino referendum question on the November ballot. He says the business was paid, in part, with the small ownership stake in the project. Lally says that's the full extent of their involvement. Peter Martin agreed. Martin said he did work on the unsuccessful 2008 casino referendum campaign, which was led by a different group. Martin says he and Palmintieri, who are Maine residents, were hired solely to handle the petitioning and work the issue through the legislature. When that work was done, he says they were paid with cash and the ownership share, and their contract ended. Martin says they are not involved in the current campaign.
Rob Lally says all the other investors in the project are Maine business owners, most with connections to the Oxford County area.
Dan Cashman says his group has other reasons to oppose the new casino. He argues some aspects of the proposed law would create an "unfair playing field" that would put Hollywood Slots at a disadvantage, and essentially block any other casino develo0pment in southern Maine. Rob Lally argues that the casino would provide millions of dollars in new tax revenue for Maine each year and create more than two thousand jobs.
WEB: Take Charge Maine
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