Lakeville Voters Overwhelmingly Reject Casino Plan

LAKEVILLE (AP) — Voters in Lakeville voted overwhelmingly against a casino proposed by the Wampanoag tribe of Aquinnah.

WPRI-TV reports that the tally on Saturday was 1,735 opposed and 172 in favor of the casino plan. The vote followed the rejection of a casino proposal in neighboring Freetown.

The Martha's Vineyard-based tribe proposed a 145,000-square-foot casino and 150-room hotel.

Opponents said a casino would ruin the rural character of the area and that it would be too close to the town's regional school campus.

Tribal leaders say the votes in Lakeville and Freetown were non-binding and they plan to move forward with their casino plans.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.