Shawn Scott
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| Shawn Scott | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Bridge Capital |
| Role: | Vice Chairman & Director of Business Development |
| Expertise: | Finance, real estate development, construction, gaming |
| Website: | Official website |
As of 2017, Shawn Scott was the vice chairman and director of business development for Bridge Capital. He specialized in finance, real estate development, construction, and the development of casinos and other gaming and entertainment ventures. [1]
Scott and Bridge Capital was involved with ballot initiative campaigns related to gambling in Washington, D.C., as well as in states including Maine, Massachusetts, and Idaho.[2][3]
Career
Scott was born in California, where he began his career by joining his family's real estate business.[3]
According to The Washington Post, Scott's gaming career began in 1994 when he was granted a restricted gambling license for a casino in Henderson, Nevada.[3]
In 1999, Scott began purchasing struggling race tracks and, according to one track executive, believed that "distressed racing properties could be converted into total successes if they had slot machines." In 1999, Scott paid $10 million for Delta Downs in Louisiana, where voters approved the installation of slot machines. He sold Delta Downs two years later for $130 million. In 2002, he bought controlling interest in Vernon Downs in New York, but was barred from operating the facility by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board after running a background check on Scott and finding what The Washington Post described as "an associate [who] exercised hidden influence over his affairs."[3]
In 2003, according to the Bangor Daily News, a report from the Maine Harness Racing commission "accused Scott of having a web of companies demonstrating 'sloppy, if not irresponsible financial management.'" The report linked Scott to 37 lawsuits in four states between 1992 and 2000.[4]
As of 2017, Scott continued to develop entertainment and gaming venues both within the U.S. and internationally. He was involved in the launch of the Zia Park Racetrack and Casino in Hobbs, New Mexico, and the Kingdom of Dreams Resort in Cambodia, among others.[5][1]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
2016-2017
In 2016, the Maine Casino or Slot Machines in York County Initiative was designed to allow for slot machines or a casino in York County, Maine. Applicants eligible for a license to operate slot machines or a casino would have been entities that owned at least 51 percent of a commercial horse racing track with pari-mutuel wagering in Penobscot County in 2003. The specific application requirement meant that Shawn Scott, the majority owner of Bangor Raceway in 2003, would have been the only person eligible for a license.[6]
The ballot initiative failed to qualify for the 2016 ballot because its petition did not have enough valid signatures, according to the secretary of state's office.[7] Supporters then collected additional signatures and submitted them on December 22, 2016.[8] Over 87,000 signatures were deemed valid on January 23, 2017.[9] As the measure was an indirect initiative, the proposal was sent to the state legislature for consideration. Horseracing Jobs Fairness led the signature drive to get the initiative certified. Voters rejected the ballot initiative.
As of January 18, 2017, the campaign had raised $4.2 million.[10] Lisa Scott, a resident of Miami, Florida, and sister of Shawn Scott, was the sole contributor to the campaign as of that date.[11]
Prior to 2016
After purchasing shares of a track in Bangor, Maine in 2002, Scott led a 2003 referendum campaign in which the people of Maine voted to allow slot machines at racetracks.[3][12] Scott sold the Bangor track to Penn National Gaming for $51 million.[13]
In 2004, Scott led a campaign to put slot machines in racetracks in rural Idaho. The measure failed to get enough signatures to make it onto the ballot, and elections clerks in three Idaho counties found forged signatures on the petitions.[3] Also in 2004, Scott and Bridge Capital failed to put an initiative to build a casino in Washington, D.C., on the ballot when the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics ruled that supporters of the initiative had failed to legally collect enough signatures. A Florida-based subcontractor was hired for the petition drive by Bridge Capital, but the subcontractor was charged with violations of election law by the D.C. elections board.[12]
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details Miller's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Shawn Scott | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Maine Question 1, Casino or Slot Machines in York County Initiative (2017) | 2017 | Supported |  Defeated
|
| Maine Slot Machines at Commercial Horse Racetracks, Question 2 (2003) | 2003 | Supported[14] |  Approved
|
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Shawn Scott. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Maine Question 1, Casino or Slot Machines in York County Initiative (2017)
- Maine 2017 ballot measures
- Maine Slot Machines at Commercial Horse Racetracks, Question 2 (2003)
- Lisa Scott (Florida)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bridge Capital, "Our Principals," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "York County casino plan qualifies for statewide vote in November," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Washington Post, "Criticism Shadows D.C. Slot Catalyst," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Bangor leaders denounce latest York County casino effort," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ Bloodhorse Horse Racing, "Zia Park is ready to move forward after lawsuit dropped," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Proponents of York County casino submit petitions calling for 2017 vote," December 27, 2016
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Citizens’ initiative for York County slot machines/casino does not qualify for ballot," March 2, 2016
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Mainers could be voting on another casino in 2017," accessed January 24, 2016
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State Facebook, "Certification," January 23, 2017
- ↑ Maine Commission of Government Ethics & Election Practices, "Horseracing Jobs Fairness Committee Reports," accessed January 18, 2017
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Signature bid over, a pop-up casino campaign in Maine stirs criticism," January 24, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Washington Times, "Gambling rejection 5th for St. Croix firm," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Petition drive aims to put York County casino referendum on 2016 ballot," accessed January 24, 2017
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Group pushing new Maine casino accused of misleading tactics," accessed January 24, 2017
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