A sharply divided Milford goes to the polls today to decide whether to allow a $1 billion Foxwoods casino to be built there, as a new poll finds that a majority of Massachusetts residents back casinos for the state, but not in their backyards.
The two sides are campaigning down to the wire, with dozens of volunteers from both Casino-Free Milford and Citizens for Milford's Future planning to offer rides to the polls and standing at key intersections throughout the day with signs.
"We feel like the support is with us," said Geri Eddins, a 20-year resident and spokeswoman for Casino-Free Milford. "As far as Milford's finances go, our town is on solid ground, and we do not need a casino. By allowing a casino into Milford, we would be sacrificing our quality of life."
Whether Eddins' group, which raised about $24,000 as of Oct. 31 for its campaign, is any match for Foxwoods, which has spent $790,000 for everything from an office in Milford to advertising, canvassing, lawn signs, T-shirts, bumper stickers and a voter survey whose results it declined to reveal last night, remains to be seen.
"As an attorney, I'm all about the facts," said Mike Kaplan, chairman of Citizens for Milford's Future, which received $24,000 from Foxwoods, mostly for advertising and mail solicitations. "This project would create 3,500 jobs and $34 million annually to our town. ... We can do a lot of things with that money, including decreasing taxes."
A statewide phone survey of 517 adults conducted earlier this month by Western New England University Polling Institute found that 61 percent said they favor establishing casinos in the state, but 55 percent said they would oppose having one in their community.
"The poll results suggest there is a 'not in my backyard' mindset when it comes to casinos in Massachusetts," said Tim Vercellotti, the institute's director and a professor of political science at the university. "Residents still seem to want casinos, just not too close to home."
So far, Wynn in Everett is the only contender for the sole resort casino license in Eastern Massachusetts to have staged a successful host community vote, although Suffolk Downs may re-emerge as a candidate in Revere if it manages to find a casino operator as a partner.
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