SACO — Former governor Angus King voiced his opposition against the proposed racino in Biddeford Monday afternoon at a rally outside the Saco train station.

The rally was organized by local grassroots group Citizens Against a Bad Deal. It was held at 3 p.m., a half hour before King was scheduled to attend a rally for gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler at the nearby train station.

Biddeford City Councilor Patricia Boston and Biddeford’s former mayor, retired General Wallace Nutting, also spoke at the rally. They were joined by a small crowd of about 30 casino opponents.

Boston said members of Citizens Against a Bad Deal were concerned Biddeford was moving too fast on the proposed racino and there wasn’t enough information for voters to make an informed decision.

“We’re here to set the record straight. A vote on tomorrow’s referendum is binding,” said Boston.

Boston said the process needs to be slowed down.

“A project of this size can’t be rushed,” she said.

King concurred with Boston, saying that once the decision is made, “The train is very much on the track and will be impossible to stop.”

King said that since the Hollywood Slots casino opened in Bangor, calls to the gambling addiction hotline have risen from under 100 to more than 1,200 a year.

“My problem with these things is that they’re harmful. They’re harmful to our people, they’re addictive, they take an enormous human toll,” said King.

King said that racinos do not create economic development.

“Racinos take money from one part of the local economy and give it to someone else ”“ usually people from out of state,” said King.

He said people talk about the 350 jobs the Bangor casino created, but a restaurant and two hotels had to be shut down to make way for the casino.

“The bottom line is that this is a bad deal for Biddeford and in the long run I think it’s one they will regret if they say yes,” said King.

Nutting said he has seen the effects from gambling all over the world, and he has not seen any positive results from gambling.

“It takes a toll on individual people, it drains family coffers,” said Nutting.

“Gambling will suck the resources and the life out of this community,” said Nutting.

He said the city should focus on the mill district, which will become the city’s “economic engine.”

“We need to look beyond the empty promises of quick riches and more carefully consider what’s best for Biddeford,” said Nutting.

Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey, in a recent letter to the editor, said the proposed racino would bring 500 jobs with benefits, and would additionally bring 900 construction jobs to build the facility.

Twomey said the racino is a one-time opportunity.

“This is not something that will ever come back to this community, to locate Scarborough Downs in Biddeford on our land, a new racino and 200-room hotel that will be absolutely beautiful. There will be no third party operator, these are Maine people behind the project and they will see it through,” wrote Twomey.

She said that school budgets will be cut again next year, as will city jobs, and that naysayers have not offered anything that would offer jobs.

“I ask you to give this city a chance, and give our people jobs, and revenue to give us the tax relief we need,” said Twomey.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.