Foxwoods MA Spent $792,171 on Milford Casino Campaign through October

Foxwoods Massachusetts has spent nearly $800,000 on the campaign to bring a resort casino to Milford, according to records filed with the Milford Town Clerk's office Tuesday.

The developer spent $792,171 on advertising, campaign services, rent for its Main Street offices, and other expenses, including $23,500 in two contributions to Citizens for Milford's Future, the group that had formed in late summer to support the casino effort.

The developer also disclosed it spent $30,000 for the Nov. 19 special election. The casino is required under state law to cover the town's expenses in holding the referendum, which is scheduled for Nov. 19. In that election, town voters will decide whether the $1 billion resort casino advances to state consideration for a resort gaming license.

Foxwoods did not disclose any contributions to its campaign. The developer told Town Clerk Amy Hennessy Neves it did not receive any, according to an email from Hennessy.

According to the campaign finance reports filed Tuesday, Foxwoods out-spent Casino Free Milford — an organization of casino opponents — 57 to 1. Casino Free Milford reported $23,770 in receipts through October, and $13,795 in expenditures.

Casino Free Milford collected $8,350, from donors in towns surrounding Milford. Contributors included individuals as well as restaurants, such as Truffles, New England Steak & Seafood and Prezo Grille & Bar.

Citizens for Milford's Future also filed a campaign finance report by the Tuesday deadline. It reported $23,500 in receipts, Foxwoods being its sole contributor, and spent $4,945.

In its report, Foxwoods disclosed it spent a total of $713,595 on campaign services, through the Rendon Group of Boston, as well as funds spent to run its office, and smaller contributions to local groups, including $2,500 to the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce and $1,500 to the Milford High School Boosters Club.

In a break-out of smaller expenses, it reported payments to 10 campaign staff members, $68,500 spent on polling, and $101,784 on advertising. The advertising expenses are not broken down by specific media company. Instead, the disclosure is of payments directed to the advertising company hired to make those purchases, Petta Ryan of Arbor Circle, Natick, and the Rendon Group.

Foxwoods also reported spending more than $200,000 for professional services, provided by companies including Bespoke Consulting of Minneapolis, Digital Turf of Kennebunk, ME, Creative Strategies of Plymouth, Glodis Group of Auburn, Liberty Square Group of Boston and Mission Control of Mansfield Center, CT.