BIDDEFORD – When Maine legislators considers L.D. 1203, which would allow racinos both in Biddeford and in Washington County, I hope they consider this basic question: Who is representing the people in this?

It’s important to be aware of what happened when Biddeford voters approved a referendum question to allow a racino in our city limits.

The City Council approved it for the November election at the second meeting in August — the last possible meeting to place an item on the November ballot.

It was not on the council’s agenda for that evening — it was added part-way through the meeting after an executive session was that called to discuss “property.” Then the pro-racino people spent $171,000 on the two-month campaign — this in a city in which $5,000 on a city-wide campaign is a lot of money.

Did Biddeford citizens contribute any of that $171,000? No, 100 percent of it came from Ocean Properties.

The pro-racino people did mailings, door-to-door literature drops, advertised on radio, TV and the newspapers, put videos on Facebook and rented space for a headquarters. No expense seemed too much.

How was the idea sold to Biddeford? As “jobs, jobs, jobs” — with some consideration of harness racing.

The mayor talked about how she grew up watching “My Friend Flicka.” Very little mention of slot machines, which is the source of most of the income.

They said this will be an equestrian center to visit, complete with a first-class hotel. And they (the mayor and a majority of the City Council) just wanted the chance to sit down at the table and talk about this.

Voting for it would not necessarily mean a racino; it would simply start the process to consider a racino.

Of course, there is the money. Biddeford is hoping to make $5 million a year from this — seemingly a fountain of money with no consequences.

But is this an accurate picture?

Ocean Properties is continuing to spend thousands of dollars every week in a lobbying effort in Augusta.

Please consider this. What if they spent $50,000 to have an independent firm see what the short- and long-term effects would be for Biddeford?

After all, they are talking about spending $125 million to erect this equestrian paradise — what’s an extra $50,000?

It could be that Biddeford voters made a short-term desperation vote and did not have a chance to consider or be aware of long-term consequences.

For the long term, the question is Biddeford’s future. The essence of Biddeford lies in its downtown, its mills, its wooded areas and its coastline.

Caleb Johnson and I expect to close this month on a construction loan for the building at 265 Main St., the first building on Main Street to use federal and state historic tax credits.

Doug Sanford has been active with North Dam Mill for a half-dozen years and bought the Westpoint Home mills (an additional 750,000 square feet) last June. There are other plans for other mill buildings.

We need to add a parking garage, we need to work on the riverwalk, we need to promote the downtown as a shopping area and attract businesses to it.

GrowSmart Maine talks about having growth where the infrastructure is already in place and that’s what Biddeford needs to do — the mills are in excellent shape and the downtown architecture is amazing.

There’s a gritty elegance here. We need to use the buildings to their potential. That effort has started. This is where we need to focus our attention to attract jobs.

If a racino happens, there will be massive pressures for development on the edge of the city. It’s easy to find examples of towns with racinos or casinos and an empty downtown.

My favorite example is Dover, Del., where several of my family members live.

If a racino comes, money will be sucked from the local economy. Small businesses suffer in Dover as money flows to gambling instead of electronics, clothes and other items. Rrestaurants struggle because racinos offer cheap food.

The future of Biddeford will have no connection to its proud past. And we will grow more and more dependent on the racino as other businesses fail.

Legislators, give people a chance to think long-term. Send the issue to the voters this fall.

This is about fairness and long-term, good-paying jobs. Please do the right thing.