Portsmouth Candidates Like Slot Machines

According to the meeting held last Tuesday by the Citizen’s for Voter Education, the majority of candidates for the seven District 16 House of Representatives seats think that casinos should not be legal. However, they do think that bringing in slot machines might be a good idea.

At the forum, residents were able to ask the candidates various questions before voting next Tuesday. Nine of the 13 candidates for the seat were in attendance. The Democratic candidates seemed to think that the slot machines would be a good idea at racetracks with Robin Read, Laura Pantelakos, Jackie Cali-Pitts, Terie Norelli, Jim Splaine and Paul McEachern all saying that they would consider supporting legislation that asked for that.

Republican Dan Carroll said that he would support expanding the current gambling laws but that it was up to the various communities that would be hosting the casinos as to whether or not they wanted them. Republicans Warren Goddard and Jack Thorsen both said that they would not approve slot machines as they felt that it would hurt the communities.

Most of the candidates agreed that the current budget crisis would be improved once the economy changed to better standings – and that at some point it would correct itself. They were in disagreement as to how it should be fixed in the meantime, but slot machines were one of the ideas kicked around.

All of those in favor of expanding gambling felt that a casino was a bad idea, but that just bringing in slot machines would not necessarily cause the same problems as a full blown casino would.

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