BIDDEFORD — On Friday, several dozen people stood on the steps of city hall, including local business owners, local people who make their living from the harness racing industry, and concerned residents. They were lending their support to  Mayor Joanne Twomey who said she wanted to send a message that Biddeford residents still want a racino in their city.

On Tuesday, the Maine Senate defeated LD 1203, which would have allowed   a racino, a combined harness racetrack and slot machine facility, to be built in both Biddeford and Washington County.

Twomey said she was disappointed the bill failed. If passed, plans to move forward with the racino could have begun right away. Now everything is on hold, at least until November.

Since the bill was citizen initiated, it automatically goes on the state ballot in November and all Maine voters will get to decide the issue.

The mayor said she wanted to send a message to the voters to support the measure at election time.

Also, she said, she wanted to send a message to the developers of the proposed $120 million racino and hotel and entertainment complex, Ocean Properties and Scarborough Downs, that “We are still committed and enthusiastic” about the project and willing to do what it takes to convince Maine voters to approve the racino question.

“We are in it to win it,” said Twomey.

The developers have yet to make a commitment about their plans regarding the Biddeford racino.

According to Twomey, representatives from Ocean Properties are “on vacation” and will let city officials know their decision when they return.

Twomey said she was disappointed with the senate vote and she was especially disappointed that only one member of the Biddeford delegation, Sen. Nancy Sullivan (D-Biddeford,) voted for LD 1203.

“I am very disappointed with our representatives,” said local business owner Grady Sexton. He said he expected them to vote according to the wishes of the residents who approved the racino in November 2010.

In the next election, said Sexton, residents should vote against those legislators who voted against the racino.

Another local business owner, Vincent Keeley, owner of the Wonderbar Restaurant, also urged people to vote against those who didn’t support the racino.

“Don’t vote for the politicians who didn’t vote for us,” he said.

Twomey said the racino was still important to the city both to bring in more revenue to city coffers to help pay for the debt on the Biddeford High School renovation, and to bring jobs to Biddeford.

Ernest Lowell, a blacksmith from Saco, who has spent numerous years shoeing harness racing horses, urged people to vote for the racino in November. He said, raising horses is one of the last vestiges of Maine’s agriculture industry.

Biddeford resident Donna DuBois, who makes a living raising harness race horses said building a racino in Biddeford “is a golden opportunity not only for the horsemen but it’s unbelievable for tourism.”

In a telephone interview on Friday, Biddeford resident Marc Worrell who opposes the racino and is president of anti-racino group Mainers Against a Rotten Deal said he is “happy (the racino bill) will get to go to the voters.”

People in communities outside of Biddeford would also be affected if a gaming facility moved into the city, he said, so voters throughout the state should get to decide the issue.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.