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October 13, 2009

Casino backer drops out of campaign

By The Mainebiz News Staff

One of the businessmen involved in a group pushing for a casino in Oxford County has pulled out of the campaign because he believes the effort would likely be contentious and divert too much of his attention away from his current venture.

Matt Hancock, a former principal in Hancock Lumber and the new owner of Mount Abram ski area, had been involved with Black Bear Entertainment, the group exploring the casino idea, but said managing his ski area business requires his entire focus, according to the Portland Press Herald. Hancock bought the ski area last year with real estate developer Rob Lally, who is also involved with Black Bear Entertainment. The group is led by Stephen Barber, the retired president of Barber Foods in Portland, and Suzanne and Rupert Grover, founders of Grover Gun Drilling Inc., of Norway, according to the paper.

"While I fully support a resort casino's intended benefits of job creation and economic growth for Oxford County I have decided not to remain involved in the direction and/or promotion of it," he said in a written statement, according to the paper.

Hancock had said in the past that Black Bear Entertainment would attempt to get a bill before the Legislature in January or a referendum on the ballot in November 2010. A spokesman for the group said it would announce how and if it will proceed with the proposal on Thursday, according to the Press Herald.

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