Pro-casino group heavily outspending opponents in Taunton
June 03, 2012
A pro-casino group has spent $130,000, still has $169,000 left and outspent opponents dramatically on the June 9 referendum question to see if city residents will support a Mashpee Wampanoag casino, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.
Together for Taunton raised the $300,000 to support the referendum, with the funds coming entirely from the Mashpee tribe, records show. The campaign finance report is posted on the city clerk's website.
"This election is incredibly important for our tribe and the city of Taunton," tribal council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a prepared statement. "Recognizing this importance, tribal council decided to contribute the funds necessary to provide accurate and thorough information to the residents of Taunton so they can make an informed decision on June 9th. Meetings, presentations and informational materials all cost money, and we think it's money well spent."
The opposition group, Preserve Taunton's Future, did not meet Friday's filing deadline, according to the clerk's office.
Tony LaCourse, the group's chairman, said Saturday that paperwork would be filed Monday. Preserve Taunton's Future raised less than $2,000 and spent $800, he said.
Together for Taunton has spent that much on food alone during the campaign, records show.
And the amount spent so far is double what Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. spent during his campaign in 2011 to win election. Hoye and his opponent in that election combined spent just $1,000 more than the tribe has spent to date, records show.
"We knew that going in we were going to be overmatched (financially)," LaCourse said. "We're talking about a grass-roots organization of 12 people against an organization that can come up with money like that."
The tribe has used its money to do direct mailing, automated calls and hire consultants, according to the campaign records.
Though Saturday's ballot question is nonbinding, a city attorney said at a recent meeting that a yes vote is a requirement of the intergovernmental agreement between the city and tribe.
The tribe is proposing a $500 million casino complex on 145 acres in the Liberty and Union Industrial Park near routes 24 and 140. Along with the promise of jobs, the tribe has also agreed to pay the city $13 million in annual payments, some of that tied directly to slot revenue, and $33 million upfront in infrastructure improvements that include roadwork, purchasing public safety equipment, and water and sewer upgrades.
Preserve Taunton's Future knows it faces an uphill battle against the deep pockets of the tribe's investors but will use social networking sites like Facebook to reach voters, LaCourse said.
"We are going to keep pushing the issue and get the word out and hopefully people who have some concerns about the ambiguity of the contract will stand up and say, 'No,'" he said.
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