I will vote yes on Question 2 on Nov. 8 because I support free enterprise, job creation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and our agricultural heritage.

The question would allow racinos to be built in Biddeford and Washington County.

About 25,000 Mainers are out of work. The unemployment rate is above 9 percent in Washington County, and close to 70 percent on the reservation of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

With Question 2, we have an opportunity to add hundreds of jobs to our state’s economy.

Ocean Properties and Scarborough Downs expect to hire about 800 workers to build Biddeford Downs, then about 500 full-time workers when the facility is complete. We can expect similar figures for the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s racino. These are good jobs with benefits, and they will help struggling families.

The free market is what America is all about, and we should let it work.

I’ve visited the reservation, and I’ve spoken with the people of the tribe. I’ve heard their concerns, and I believe we should respect their choice to develop a racino. Their project would draw most of its visitors from Canada, and it would be a new tourist destination to a region of Maine that often gets overlooked.

The two racinos proposed by Question 2 also would protect jobs in harness racing, and they would promote local agriculture.

The harness racing industry is a key piece of the larger horse industry in Maine. There are about 35,000 horses in our state, for racing, work and pleasure.

New racetracks will support breeders, stable workers, agricultural supply stores, hay farmers and others. All of those jobs help protect our working farms and valuable open spaces. Clearly, there are many benefits of Question 2. I urge you to join me in voting yes.

Rep. Karen Foster, R-Augusta

District 58 (Vassalboro, Windsor, part of Augusta)

Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture