MONTICELLO – If Empire Resorts wants to continue its efforts to develop a Native American casino at Monticello Gaming and Raceway, it will have to find a new partner. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Saturday conducted a vote of its community members and the majority turned thumbs down on continuing with the off-reservation gaming project.

The vote among its members was 178 “no” and 140 “yes”.

Sullivan County Partnership President Timothy McCausland Monday said while he is disappointed that the tribe has decided not to pursue the project, he can respect their process.

“I hope that the folks at the track can identify another partner that can come forward and become part of the tremendous support that the county, the Town of Thompson and us here at the Partnership have for casino gaming,” he said.

The next step for the tribe would have been to seek the reversal of the so-called Kempthorne Policy, which, under the Bush Administration, prohibited the St. Regis Tribe from building an off-reservation casino in Sullivan County.