BIDDEFORD — The political action committee advocating for a racino in the city spent $88,208.25 in the first 19 days of October, according to a campaign finance report filed Friday.

The large expenditures for Pepperell Downs LLC included some $27,000 for printing and literature, about $24,000 for phone banks or automated calls and $15,000 for campaign consultants. The consultants are Lisa Baldacci and Rosemary Baldacci, sisters of Gov. John Baldacci and Robert Baldacci, who once worked for Ocean Properties Ltd., the hotel company partnering with Scarborough Downs on the proposed racino.

Other expenses were $7,650 for polling or survey research, almost $7,000 for office expenses, about $5,000 for print ads and about $2,800 for architectural services. 

A loan from Ocean Properties covered the expenses in the report period. The company has lent a total of $122,619.66 to the political action committee.

Citizens Against a Bad Deal, a committee formed to oppose the racino, filed its report Friday just before the reporting deadline, according to the city clerk’s office. A copy of the report was not immediately available.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.