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PROVIDENCE -- Richard Oster, of Barrington, has resigned as chairman of the group Save Our State, which was organized by business and citizen groups to oppose the Narragansett Indian-Harrah's casino proposed for West Warwick and scheduled for a statewide referendum in November.
Oster, former Cookson America chief executive officer, said in a brief interview yesterday that he left the group over a difference in philosophy. While most of the members of the group are against a casino under any circumstances, Oster has a more nuanced view of the ballot question that would change the state Constitution.
"My view has always been that if there is to be a casino there should be competitive bidding," Oster said.
No replacement for Oster has been named, but former Gov. Lincoln C. Almond, a Republican and a staunch opponent of a casino during his eight years as governor from 1995 to 2003, has been approached to take over leadership of the group, he acknowledged yesterday.
"They have talked to me and sent me some material in the past two or three days," Almond said. "I certainly don't think a casino is going to be good for the economy, or socially, for the state."
When Almond left the governorship, the state's two legal gambling parlors in Newport and Lincoln had 2,478 video slot machines. Since Governor Carcieri has taken office, the state has approved the addition of 4,375 slot machines at the two venues, bringing the total allowed to 6,853.
"I think we have too much gambling already," Almond said. "Rhode Islanders like to gamble, and I think our addiction rate is much higher than the national average. It hurts families."
Timothy Costa, executive director of SOS and former policy director for Carcieri, said that the group has "a broader vision" than did Oster. "We are focused on defeating the constitutional amendment question on the ballot and not on renegotiating it."
Oster said he plans to start another group to oppose the tribe's casino proposal, to be called "No Bid, No Deal."
The major problem with the West Warwick proposal, Oster said, is the General Assembly's attempt to grant an exclusive license to the partnership between the Narragansetts and Harrah's to operate the casino in West Warwick without allowing other gambling interests to bid for it.
Oster said he believes that the state is being shortchanged by as much as a billion dollars over a decade under the proposal to be put before voters.
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