Voters across the state this November overwhelmingly chose to continue the string of defeats that would have granted clearance for casinos and racinos to be built in select communities.

Question 2, which would have allowed a racino in the city of Biddeford and Washington County, was defeated 55 percent to 45 percent. Question 3, which would have allowed a casino in the city of Lewiston, had the greatest margin of defeat at 63 percent to 37 percent.

The issue isn’t with what the voters decided at the polls, but rather who were the voters making the decision. Putting slot machines in Biddeford was passed by Biddeford voters, but not by the overall state results.

Why is it that residents of outside communities can vote on an issue that should only be decided within the particular city in question? Sixty percent of Biddeford residents felt that welcoming a new business would mean the creation of potentially hundreds of jobs in the city and a jolt into the local economy to 40 percent that didn’t. Those were the only votes that should have been considered.

The same goes for Lewiston and Washington County. Interestingly enough, Biddeford residents voted down Lewiston’s plea for a similar request with the same margin of difference. This shows that the idea of gambling in the state isn’t supported, but when it comes down to specifics like job creation in your backyard, then it’s a whole new ballgame. When faced between clinging to ideals and tangible jobs or economic growth, people tend to toss the ideals out the window in favor of possible improvements in their way of life. 

Any issue, not just casinos, should be up to the residents who will be most impacted. I, as a resident of Saco, should have no say in what other communities choose to do or not do. On the flip side, if Saco were in a debate over allowing a casino to come in, I wouldn’t want any person outside of Saco making the decision for us.

Here’s hoping that local issues are decided by local people and the state referendum process can be saved for items that have far reaching effects on all Mainers.

— Justin Chenette is a host of Youth in Politics, airing on WPME Sundays at 2 p.m. and WPXT at 8:30 a.m. He is a former member of the Maine State Board of Education, a graduate of Thornton Academy and is currently attending Lyndon State College, majoring in broadcast news. Follow him on Twitter @justinchenette, like him on Facebook.com/JustinChenetteOfficial, or visit his website at justinchenette.com.