Still more votes have been counted in Barstow but the race for Mayor remains unchanged

For at least the fourth time since election day (11.04.08), the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters has updated the count of votes cast. In the week since election day, another 660 votes have been counted and added to the race for Mayor of Barstow. While the total vote count for each of the Mayoral candidates has increased during this period, the outcome remains the same. The Registrar anticipates another update at the end of the work day on Monday, 11.17.08. But for now, here are the most recent numbers:

Joe Gomez (Mayor-elect)
2405 votes (45.51%)

Lawrence Dale (incumbent)
1904 votes (36.03%)

Nathaniel Pickett
975 votes (18.45%)

In the race to fill two open City Council seats left vacant by the departures of Councilman Steve Curran and Gomez, candidates Tim Saenz and Carmen Hernandez hold onto their narrow leads:

Timothy Saenz
1861 votes (20.79%)

Carmen Hernandez
1826 votes (20.40%)

Willie Hailey, Sr.
1801 votes (20.12%)

Richard Villegas
1420 votes (15.86%)

Herchel Deaton
695 votes (7.76%)

Marvin Ellis
689 votes (7.70%)

Manuel Gurule
659 votes (7.36%)

San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: 2008 Presidential Election Results

Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale: allegations of racial slurs

At a recent City Council meeting in the City of Barstow a local political activist accused the 72-year-old GOP Mayor of Barstow Lawrence Dale and his buddies over at the local Masonic Lodge of frequently using a racial slur to refer to Barstow City Councilman Joe Gomez.

Gomez, of latino heritage, was raised in Barstow and was elected to the City Council in November 2004 after being endorsed by the Barstow Police Officers' Association.

Recently it has come to light that Mayor Dale who began a life-long career with the Santa Fe Railroad at age 17 failed to graduate from high school.

Dale and Gomez have often been often at odds over the direction Barstow should take if it hopes to attract an Indian gaming resort that could serve as an economic catalyst for the struggling desert community.

In 2006, an independent council majority appointed Hector Rodriguez as City Manager of Barstow much to the dislike of Mayor Dale. Since then, Dale has worked behind the scenes to undermine Rodriguez and recently succeeded at pushing Rodriguez out of City Hall. Gomez had hoped to retain Rodriguez as City Manager.

While Mayor Dale may be playing to his base with these alledged racist comments, nearly 40% of Barstow residents indicate they are Hispanic; and according to the San Bernardino Registrar of Voters, 40% of Barstow voters are registered Democrat; while 34% are registered GOP.

Denham launches TV and radio campaign defending budget holdout

as posted 8.15.07 by Shane Goldmacher at The Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert:

After Democrats launched a recall campaign and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited his district and pronounced that Sen. Jeff Denham "should get a lot of heat" for refusing to support the budget, the Atwater Republican is striking back with a local TV and radio campaign.

Denham, who easily won reelection in 2006, told CapitolAlert he has already spent $150,000 on the ads and launched a Web site, http://www.joinwithjeff.com/ .

"I'm ready to spend more as long as this stalemate continues," he said.

The TV ad begins with images of children in a classroom: "Senator Jeff Denham: He's fighting to balance the budget, restore accountability, and protect California's teacher-tax credit," the narrator intones.

In a statement after Schwarzenegger's Monday visit to his district, Denham said,

"Governor, let me repeat myself again, since perhaps you are not listening yet. I will not be bullied, intimidated or pressured into voting for a budget with inflated revenues, unaccounted expenses or accounting gimmickry."

Denham has also been targeted by Democrats.

Last Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata removed Denham from his seat on the Governmental Organization Committee, on which he served as vice-chair. The California Democratic Party, meanwhile, has launched a recall effort, titled "Dump Denham," that began as an anonymous sign campaign in his district.

"The Democrat party has challenged me and I have responded," Denham said.

Denham said the TV and radio campaign was planned before Schwarzenegger visited his district on Monday and reiterated that the visit was "unproductive."

"If we stop the theatrical performances, hopefully it will get done this week," Denham said of the budget. He said the governor's promise to blue-pencil veto $700 million in spending "should be put in writing." But even that, he said, would not be enough, citing inflated revenue projections from the recently approved Indian gambling compacts and the fact that no new money for higher prison guard salaries is included in the budget.

"We've got to sit down and make cuts," he said.

The budget needs 27 votes in the Senate for passage and has the support of 25 Democrats and one Republican, Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria. Denham has been targeted, in part, because he has previously provided the 27th vote.

Schwarzenegger continues to travel the state to ratchet up pressure on the holdout Senate Republicans. He is in Riverside today, near the districts of Sens. Jim Battin and Bob Dutton, both of whom were quoted in the local paper, the Press-Enterprise, criticizing the governor's visit.

Andrea Hoch's husband appointed to top board post by Gov. Schwarzenegger

8.13.07

Hoch's husband appointed to top board post

By Shane Goldmacher - Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed the husband of legal affairs secretary Andrea Hoch to a post on the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board last Thursday.

Hoch's husband Stephen Egan, who has served as a deputy attorney general for the California Attorney General's Office since 1974, is a Republican. His position on the board, which meets monthly, pays $123,897.

The appeals board, which grants or denies unemployment insurance benefits on appeal, has long been a desired political appointment.

Earlier this year, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata appointed former colleague Sen. Liz Figueroa, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez appointed former Assemblywoman Cindy Montañez to the board.

Other current members include Terri Carbaugh, former press secretary to Maria Shriver, and Fred Aguiar, Schwarzenegger's former cabinet secretary. There is one holdover appointment from Gov. Gray Davis, who gave Ann Richardson, his chief deputy legislative secretary, a seat on the board.

Last week, Schwarzenegger also named Richard Rice, formerly undersecretary at the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, as chair of the board.

Sen. Stabenow, Rep. Miller help bring more powerful colleagues on board off-reservation casino bandwagon

click for Congressional Power Rankings Lists

Congress.org rates each current Member of Congress on various criteria that demonstrates power and the ability to be effective in Congress in 2007. This results in a Power Score that ranks members for overall power in each chamber of Congress.

Visit Congress.org to see a complete ranking. In the meantime, here's how a few of the congressional players stack up who are said to be involved on one side or the other of the Ilitch/Malik backed plans for an off-reservation casino in Port Huron, Michigan.

Senate
#1 Senator Harry Reid - said to be for
#8 Senator Carl Levin - for
#42 Senator Debbie Stabenow - for

House
#22 Rep. Nick Rahall - said to be for
#91 Rep. Bart Stupack - for
#118 Rep. Jerry Lewis - supportive of Bay Mills
#140 Rep. Don Young - for
#274 Rep. Mike Rogers - against
#401 Rep. Candice Miller - for

Although Stabenow and Miller appear to rank lowest within their respective chambers; they were easier marks for the Ilitch/Malik team (recipients/beneficiaries themselves of more than $200,000 in direct political contributions) and reportedly have been effective advocates introducing bills and bringing higher ranking members on board.

Washington Post blogger Chris Cilliza runs down the 'Endorsement Elite' among Michigan's GOP

from a post 7.10.07 by Chris Cillizza at the washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog "The Fix:"

About This Blog | Meet Chris Cillizza

Endorsement Elite: Michigan Republicans
It's a testament to the uncertainties still present in the Fast Track Campaign there are at least three potential dates still in discussion for Michigan's Republican presidential primary.

Currently, no primary date is set. Two bills are sitting in the state legislature -- one that would set the primary on Feb. 5 -- the new Super Tuesday --and the other that would hold it on Jan. 29, the same day that Florida and South Carolina are scheduled to vote. Still others in MIchigan want to move the primary up even earlier in an attempt to trump New Hampshire with whom Michiganders have long feuded about the nominating calendar.

Whenever the vote happens, it will be an important test for the Republican field. Despite its population losses over the past few decades, Michigan remains a large state in the politically crucial middle of America. And, it is also a state where two of the better-known Republicans in the race have political bases. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won the state over President George W. Bush in 2000 and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) was born in Michigan and his father, George, served as the state's governor.

Regardless of the exact date, it's a near-certainty that Michigan will again be central to the fight for the Republican nomination. With that in mind, we offer The Fix's Endorsement Elite -- the five individuals seen as most influential within the state's GOP. (For past Endorsement Elites, click here.) ...

Candice Miller. Miller is regarded as perhaps the most politically savvy of the Michigan Republican delegation (with the possible exception of Rep. Mike Rogers) and has her eye on a statewide race down the line. Miller represents roughly two-thirds of Macomb County, a fast growing population center in the state and has a reputation as a political brawler -- a necessity in a tough nomination fight. COMMITTED TO GIULIANI

Novak hears confirmed rumors Rep. Lewis could retire in 2008, Calif races could be key focus

posted 5.30.07 by Robert Novak at HumanEvents.com

Novak suggests California could be a major focus in Congressional races in 2008 with one possible pickup and a series of potential retirements currently being discussed (in some cases just rumored), there could be a large freshman class coming out of the Golden State next year.

• District 4: Rep. John Doolittle (R) is being scrutinized by the Justice Department. Despite his firm protestations of innocence, there is no question that Republicans view him as a liability and do not want to lose his heavily GOP seat because of accusations of impropriety. He barely won re-election last year.


• District 11: Republicans feel confident that they can unseat freshman Rep. Jerry McNerney (D), who defeated Rep. Richard Pombo (R) last year 43 to 37 percent in a Republican district under unusual circumstances. Pombo had to campaign under an ethical cloud and amid a strongly anti-Republican mood. Former state Assemblyman Dean Andal (R), who announced his candidacy this month, has represented about half of the area in one capacity or another for some time, and would be formidable against McNerney. Another possible candidate is Assemblyman Guy Houston (R). Both are conservatives.


• District 24: Rep. Elton Gallegly (R) decided to retire last cycle for health reasons, only to change his mind at the last minute and run. California Republicans continue to wonder what his '08 plans will be. The congressman may not be sure himself.


• District 41: Both on Capitol Hill and in California, Republicans say that Rep. Jerry Lewis (R) is unlikely to seek re-election. This despite the fact that Lewis is not currently the target of an inquiry, and there have been no new developments in the ethical allegations against him. Lewis won last year with two-thirds of the vote against a token Democrat. Lewis has not tipped his hand at all, yet talk of potential Republican replacements already abounds. Conservative GOP San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus is said to be interested.

Republicans do not want to see either Lewis or Doolittle resign, because they do not want to spend money now on a special election. The money issue will also loom in the general election of 2008, but unless that election goes as badly for the GOP as last year's, Republicans can take heart in the fact that none of California's congressional districts is considered competitive. If there is anywhere you would prefer to have retirements, this is the state.

Representatives Ken Calvert (R) and Gary Miller (R) are also facing ethical questions -- respectively over earmarks and a federal tax dispute -- but they are perceived to be in better shape than Lewis or Doolittle. Still, as the 2006 election cycle demonstrated, this can always change with little notice.

Labor's battle over casino agreements extends to Reservation hosting presidential debates

as posted 5.24.07 at The Roundup:




...Dan Morain writes that the fight over tribal compacts has entered the presidential race, as Democratic candidates are balking over a proposed debate at Morongo.

"Only two presidential candidates -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel -- have agreed to take part in the "Prez on the Rez" event planned for Aug. 23 at the Morongo casino-resort near Banning.

Tribal leaders suspect that labor unions are discouraging candidates from appearing until more worker concessions are incorporated into the compacts.

"Kalyn Free of the Indigenous Democratic Network, which is sponsoring the debate, said candidates' failure to attend could determine who Native Americans supported and how much the deep-pocket tribes spent in the campaign.

"'Tribal leaders are going to remember who came to 'Prez on the Rez' and, more importantly, who didn't,' Free said.

"In proposing a forum at Morongo, Free stepped into the middle of a years-long fight over efforts to organize casino workers. It comes as Morongo and four other Southern California tribes seek legislative approval to more than double the size of their casinos, an effort stalled in part because of labor opposition.

"Free said the top candidates had not responded because of pressure by a union, Unite Here, which is trying to organize casino workers at Morongo and elsewhere. The union denies seeking a boycott.

"'I'm aware,' said Jack Gribbon, the union's California political director, 'that there may be a Democratic presidential candidate or two who is concerned about the ongoing struggle in California over enforceable workers rights. However, to say that Unite Here has specifically asked that candidates not attend is not true.'"

Casino Developer & Author of Legislation to approve dual Barstow casinos apparently violated political reform laws

$2,000 + $2,000 ≠ $3,000

TVT has learned that Detroit Casino Syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr. may have once again violated California’s Political Reform Act when he forwarded two checks totaling $4,000 to Friends of Pat Wiggins on 10/21/06.

Malik and his affiliate MJM Enterprises & Development each contributed $2,000 to Wiggins and failed to report the contributions as a major donor before 1/31/07; an apparent violation of the Act.

Under the Act, the contributions must be taken in aggregate; and in 2006 an individual could not give more than $3,000 to a single candidate for state office. Malik used two different names to give Wiggins $4,000. Wiggins marked both contributions toward the November ’06 election cycle.

Wiggins received checks from both the Michael J. Malik, Sr. Trust and the Malik controlled affiliate MJM Enterprises & Development on the last day of a pre-election reporting cycle (10/21/06) but didn’t report them to the Secretary of State in the same disclosure report – Wiggins didn’t report the MJM Enterprises check for more than two months -- nor did her committee report it under late campaign disclosure requirements.

Wiggins apparently violated the Act when she accepted both checks from Malik, cashed them and failed to return $1,000.

Senator Patricia Wiggins had agreed sometime before a January 30, 2007 press party to be principal author of SB 157, a bill to approve gaming compacts for Malik’s casino partners. Wiggins is one of only three legislators who have indicated publicly that they support the bill since it was introduced in January.

In October 2006, California’s Fair Political Practices Commission fined Barwest LLC, Malik’s Detroit-based casino development and management company, for failing on two counts to report a $26,600 campaign contribution to then-Rep. Richard Pombo’s San Joaquin County GOP Committee.

You may also want to review these posts or click on the "labels" below for related information:

• Tangled Web: Malik's alleged mistress admits she committed perjury to shield his assets in divorce proceedings
• UPDATED: Donor's alleged mistress also gave $10,000 to two of his favorite candidates -- Rep. Candice Miller & Sen. Debbie Stabenow
• Firm produced valuation of Malik's interest in MotorCity Casino for use in court
• Investor served probation for domestic assault on 12-year-old boy
• FPPC Enforcement Decisions: Casino syndicator's Major Donor violations revealed
• Investors have troubled histories
• Three investors must sell their Detroit casino interests

Doolittle legal defense fund?

posted on 04.20.07 by Hank Shaw | Recordnet Blogs:

Doolittle legal defense fund?
So it appears Rep. John Doolittle has set up a legal defense fund. Can't wait to see who donates to it. Wonder if Richard Pombo will chip in? He's got several thousand dollars left in his RICH PAC account. And remember that the former Tracy congressman chipped in for former Majority Leader Tom DeLay's fund...My crystal ball says that if Doolittle's having a tough time getting enough campaign contributions to pay off his 'debt' to his wife for, ahem, fundraising, then getting enough cash to pay his soon-to-be-astronomical legal bills might be a shade tougher...

It will certainly be interesting to see who chips in ... When Pombo and the others gave to DeLay the scene was much different. This is another chapter and those who went out on a limb then, aren't likely going to do it in these times; number of them aren't around or find themselves needing support today. But Hank does bring up an interesting topic, what will Pombo do with the RICH PAC money? And what about all of those donors he cultivated?

YouTube: Doolittle - Abramoff "Bad boys, bad boys"

The suburban Washington, D.C. home of Republican John Doolittle (CA-04) was recently raided by the FBI. Rep. Doolittle and his wife have been under investigation for their relationship with convicted GOP super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Abramoff now resides in federal prison on a litany of fraud, bribery, and money laundering convictions. In addition to his questionable ties to Abramoff, the Congressman also took contributions from indicted defense contractor Brent Wilkes and his associates.

In addition, investigationsn are underway to determine any wrong doing that may have occured when Abramoff's "charities" hired Mrs. Julie Doolittle (John's wife) to assist with various fundraising and event planning activities.

CaliforniaTogether.com launched to support gaming compacts re-negotiated by Gov. Schwarzenegger

Organized Labor has vowed to wage all out war against California's leading gaming tribes as five amended gaming compacts move to the Assembly for approvals. Labor wants further concessions amended into the amended compacts Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger re-negotiated. The Democratic controlled state Senate also approved the compacts last week. Given Organized Labor's heavy political influence, financial resources and army of professional field organizers, Tribal leaders are taking their appeal directly to the state's voters and they have launched

TogetherCalifornia.com

from TogetherCalifornia.com:

California is Facing a Serious Budget Deficit
California is facing a fiscal crisis. Vital services like healthcare and education are being threatened. State controller John Chiang and non-partisan Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill are forecasting a dire fiscal storm on the horizon with state tax revenues falling $1.3 billion below expectations.

Tribal Compacts Can Help Solve The State’s Fiscal Crisis
Last year Governor Schwarzenegger agreed to amend existing tribal compacts with five Southern California Native American Indian tribes allowing them to expand their gaming operations at a handful of casinos in Riverside, San Bernadino and San Diego Counties. Those tribes inlcude the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseño, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation...

...According to the Governor's Office, in exchange for increasing the number of slot machines at their reservation casinos, the tribes will collectively contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the state's general fund. This new revenue will help balance the budget, improve education and provide quality healthcare for those who need it most. In fact, California will receive billions in revenues throughout the life of the compacts...

Gaming tribes respond to lobbying attacks by Organized Labor

from the Sacramento Bee's CapitolAlert:


Morongo to hit the air

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Published 9:38 am PDT Monday, April 23, 2007

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians are launching a public relations offensive to push for approval of their gambling compact, airing television ads starting Tuesday across the state and launching a new Web site.

The Morongo gambling compact, which would allow for 5,500 new slot machines in their Indian casino, was approved by the state Senate earlier this week and now sits in the Assembly, where labor advocates are lobbying heavily to block its passage.

According to media-buying sources, the television buy by Morongo is slated to begin early next week, with time purchased in the biggest of California's media markets and ads scheduled to air for at least one week. In Los Angeles, the state's largest media market, the ad purchase was estimated at $225,000, according to one veteran media buyer.

"I can tell you that we are certainly, as this thing moves on to the Assembly, we're certainly going to tell the Morongo story and inform Californians about what these compacts will bring in new revenues," said Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the Morongo tribe. "As far as any announcements, when and if we're ready to announce something, we'll announce it."

The tribe's TV spots are expected to be positive in nature.

A new Web site recently launched by the Morongo tribe, called "Together California," touts the financial benefits of the compact and may be a hint on what the soon-to-air TV ads will look like.
"Right now California is facing a fiscal crisis," a petition on the site reads. "Vital services like healthcare and education are being threatened. New agreements between the Governor and five California Indian tribes will help solve the state's dire budget problems and provide much needed funding for healthcare and education."

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger first signed the compact in August of last year, his office estimated the Morongo compact would bring in between $2.8 billion and $5.2 billion over the life of the compact. If all five major compacts are signed, the state stands to gain $13.4 billion and $22.4 billion in casino revenue-sharing payments in the next 25 years.

Malik named city's new development director

City of Tracy names Malik New Development and Engineering Services Director

(TRACY, CA) – Tracy City Manager Daniel Hobbs has announced Andrew Malik will take over the permanent position as Director of the Development and Engineering Services (DES) Department. Mr. Malik will officially begin the position effective Monday, April 9. As the DES director, he will oversee land use planning and development, engineering services, building inspection, housing and redevelopment, zoning and code enforcement programs. Mr. Malik will oversee a 53-person staff and an operational budget of $7.8 million.

Mr. Malik has been pulling double duty as the acting Director of DES and Director of the Economic Development Department since last fall. Mr. Malik began with the City of Tracy in 1996. Before joining the city, he worked for the General Growth Management Incorporated as the Director of Marketing for West Valley Mall, and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership
Incorporated."

Former Congressman Richard Pombo resides in Tracey, CA. His family has a ranch and he has backed development plans in the area.

Capitol Alert - hear Rep. John Doolittle's meeting with the Sac Bee editorial board

posted this afternoon by Shane Goldmacher at The Sacramento Bee's CapitolAlert

Rep. John Doolittle at the Bee editorial board

By Shane Goldmacher
Published 2:42 pm PDT Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Rep. John Doolittle sat down with the Sacramento Bee editorial board on April 11, just two days before the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided his Virginia home, executing a search warrant for materials related to Julie Doolittle's company, Sierra Dominion Financial Services.

Hear the full interview with Doolittle, a Roseville, Calif., Republican, at Capitol Alert.

A video excerpt of the interview can be found here.

Tribes will fail to meet Schwarzenegger's deadlines

Two California tribes will fail to meet Governor Schwarzenegger’s May 31 deadline to complete a federal land transfer process needed to effect their off-reservation casino proposals; but according to a spokesman for Barwest, the developer and manager of proposed Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes Indian Casino Resorts planned in Barstow, the parties are counting on the Governor to amend their existing agreements.

The gaming compacts negotiated by Governor Schwarzenegger with the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians in 2005 include several critical deadlines.

Barwest Casinos EIS/EIR COMPLETED DOCUMENTS: Notice of Intent Scoping Report

FUTURE DOCUMENTS: Draft EIS Final EIS Record of Decision

May 31, 2007 Deadline

Among them, by May 31, 2007 Barwest was to have conveyed roughly 48 acres of land in Barstow to the United States to be held in trust for the two tribes and the tribes were to have had other positive determinations made by the Secretary of the Interior.

However, Barwest, the tribes’ developer, and the private entity that owns the 48-acres, failed to execute activity needed to convey the property to the tribes via the trust process until 2006.

An Environmental Impact Statement and Tribal Environmental Impact Report (EIS/TEIR) for the project is being prepared by Analytical Environmental Services (AES) as a 3rd party contractor for the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); but that process won’t be complete for months.

Public Environmental Review Not Complete

The EIS at absolute best case takes a minimum of 18 months. At this point, the parties are about one third of the way through the EIS process: A notice of intent was circulated last year, a scoping meeting was held in Barstow and the scoping report was issued in September 2006.

The Draft EIS must be circulated and available for 45-day public comment; a series of hearings must be held and then the final report must be authored and submitted. A Record of Decision (ROD) must then be made. Other administrative considerations are taken into account and must receive the green-light from the Secretary of Interior before a casino can be built.

Clearly Barwest and its tribal partners will fail to meet the May 31 deadlines set by the Governor.

Falling Short on Other Deadlines & Requirements

The 2005 compacts included a second deadline, August 31, 2007 by which the two tribes must have completed all other elements needed for the compacts to take effect or the agreements would be null and void.

Since the Governor signed the agreements in 2005, Barwest and its tribal partners have failed to win ratification of the agreements from the state Legislature; another element required before the casinos can be built. The legislature failed to act on the agreements in 2006 and the author of legislation to ratify the agreements this year, Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Eurkea), tells reporters the bill's prospects aren't looking very "rosey."

Barwest Hopes Schwarzenegger Will Amend Compacts & Legislature Will Agree

At a recent Barstow City Council meeting, Barwest’s spokesman Tom Shields indicated they were hopeful the Governor would renegotiate those elements of the Compacts with them.

Fight for Barstow casinos renews

04/11/2007

Big Lagoon, Los Coyotes tribes are looking for help in Sacramento

Joe Nelson, Staff WriterSan Bernardino County Sun

The battle for Barstow and the billions it could mean for casino operators lucky enough to get in on the action opened a new season in Sacramento on Tuesday.

Two of the tribal contenders, Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians, rallied to be heard as state Senate hearings on an unrelated tribal gaming issues got under way.

Absent from view were the Chemehuevis, whose reservation is located on the Colorado River in San Bernardino County. That tribe also wants to build a casino in Barstow.

Tuesday's hearing was a renegotiation of gaming compacts for six California Indian tribes, including the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which operates a casino adjacent to San Bernardino and Highland.

In September 2005, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved gaming compacts for the Los Coyotes of San Diego County and Big Lagoon of Humboldt County. The compacts authorized each tribe to build its own casino in Barstow. But there are a number of hurdles to be cleared before ground can be broken. First, the compacts must be ratified by the Legislature.

Barstow, which supports the Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon plan, estimates the casinos could generate 3,700 new jobs and $6million a year in city revenue.

"We're asking the Senate look at the off-reservation gaming compacts at the same time they're evaluating the on-reservation gaming compacts," city spokesman John Rader said Tuesday.

But the effort to build the casinos in Barstow has met opposition from some tribes, including the San Manuels, who argue the two tribes would be encroaching on Serrano ancestral lands.

"Ancestral history is not a requirement to get approval for a casino project," said Jason Barnett, a spokesman for the Big Lagoon Rancheria tribe. "What it comes down to is there's a question of competition and whether they (the San Manuels) feel this would be a threat to the competition and to their tribe."

But San Manuel tribal spokesman Jacob Coin said competition is not the issue. The tribe does not oppose similar efforts by the Chemehuevis to open a casino in Barstow because the Barstow area would be considered ancestral land to the tribe.

Another problem, Coin said, is that more than a dozen Indian tribes in California are pushing to build casinos off their reservations, maneuvers he said go against what gaming tribes promised during their campaigns for Proposition 5 and 1A - that casinos would be built solely on reservation land.

"It's a huge issue in California," Coin said, adding that there are 69 applications on file with the Department of the Interior to build casinos off reservations.

Officials representing the Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon tribes hope the state Senate gives them equal time.

"Our feeling is while we respect these other tribes' rights to expand and amend their compacts . . . all we're asking for is the same opportunities that they've enjoyed," Barnett said.

indianz.com: California tribes push for approval of compacts

as posted 04.08.07 at indianz.com :

Five California tribes are headed to the Legislature this week to seek approval of their new gaming compacts. The deals would allow the already successful tribes to add as many as 22,000 new slot machines and expand their facilities. In exchange, the state could see up to $500 million in revenue a year. The Senate is expected to easily approve the agreements, according to The Los Angeles Times. But Assembly Members are concerned about the lack of provisions affecting labor unions and independent audits. The tribes are the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Get the Story: Valley's casinos go all in (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 4/9) Tribal gaming accords on the table (The Los Angeles Times 4/8) Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianzcom Casinos lobby for more slots (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 4/8) Gaming talks set to begin (The San Bernardino Sun 4/8)

indianz.com -- recent stories on Indian Gaming in California

Marian Ilitch's plans for twin casinos in Barstow have been on life support for more than a year

Some insiders and political leaders said the gaming compacts Marian Ilitch's team had negotiated for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Indians were DOA when they arrived in the California Legisalture back in 2005.

Eleven months ago, San Bernardino County's Sun newspaper reported that key legislative aides, willing to go on the record, were saying the compacts were in fact dead.

Ilitch and her crew kept their plans for twin casino resorts in Barstow on life support since then with sophisticated use of theater and nearly $1 million dollars spent on lawyers, lobbying, propoganda and political campaigns. Her agents consistently gave the public false hopes when they new their plans were terminal; they paid people associated with the Los Coyotes Reservation to help them make their case.

In January, Marian's crew staged a press conference to suggest their plans had been revived and that there was legislative interest where none had ever existed before. By their own estimation, Barwest spokespersons indicated they had three months to build a ground swell of support in both houses of the legislature. They had three votes and needed approximatley 60 more.

It's been two months since the Team Ilitch dog and pony show and nothing new has been reported since (no press releases, no media events, no protests on the Capitol lawn or other manufactured hoopla) -- You can bet if they had even a handful of new commitments from legislators willing to state their support publicly, the Ilitch Detroit PR machine would be exploiting the heck out of that "news." But they don't.

For those keeping score; back in January Ilitch operatives needed to recruit two new legislators approximately every three days. And now, they would have to recruit nearly two new legislators every day and that includes weekends and the days the legislature is out on Spring Break. If they couldn't do it in 18 months -- after throwing $500,000 at lobbying, $75,000 at state political candidates, $200,000 on local political activity and staging a hunger strike on the Capitol grounds -- what are the odds they are going to get their act together anytime in the next thirty days?

The Barwest compacts are DEAD; they have been lifeless for quite some time. And by perpetuating a fraud to the contrary, Barwest guarantees Barstow's hopes for a casino and economic development are DEAD too.

The only people who to possibly benefit from the continuing the Barwest sham are Nevada interests fearful of competition and those in the Barstow area who are trying to unload property at artificially inflated prices. ... People who like Marian Ilitch already have more than they know what to do with.

Michigan’s Political Ménage à Trois

What do casino maven Marian Ilitch and Michigan Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-10^th) have in common?

The two powerful Michigan women share the same guy (political guru). (He’s attempted to deny the connection and says the only thing they have in common is their blonde hair color).

Tom Shields, GOP political/PR/advertising guy and the founder of Lansing, Michigan based Marketing Resource Group is:

• spokesman for Ilitch Holdings, Inc. and its various affiliates as well as for various casino syndications backed by Marian Ilitch in NY, MI & CA; and

• senior political and advertising consultant in the last two of three congressional campaigns for Rep. Candice Miller.

Shields & Illitch

Shields has worked with Marian Ilitch and her family for more than a decade, dating back to the 1996 statewide ballot measure that narrowly approved three commercial casinos in Detroit (GreekTown, MotorCity Casino and MGM Grand Detroit). Originally backed by money from Circus Circus (Mandalay Resort Group); now, it is said, Marian is the sole owner of MotorCity Casino. And her family owns, Little Caesars Pizza, Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings.

Shields & Miller

Shields wasn’t part of the team that got Candice Miller originally elected to Congress, but after she introduced a bill to get an Ilitch backed casino approved by Act of Congress, Shields replaced Miller’s primary political advertising consultant, at a fraction of their costs (19%), in Rep. Miller’s subsequent re-election campaigns.

Shields & Ilitch & Miller

The Ilitch Family didn’t back Rep. Miller’s first congressional campaign but after she introduced their casino bill they were gungho for Miller. A month after Miller introduced the casino bill (two months into her first congressional term), the Ilitch Family publicly joined the Miller bandwagon and put together one of the biggest fundraising days of Rep. Miller’s first two years in Congress (Shields hopped aboard and wrote a $1,000 check that day too). Since Rep. Miller introduced their casino bill, Marian Ilitch (her partner Michael J. Malik, Sr.) and her family have contributed $75,000 to Rep. Miller’s political committees.

TOM SHIELDS Marketing Resource Group, Inc. Lansing, Michigan

CASINO & ILITCH AFFILIATED CLIENT LIST

Atwater Casino Group

Atwater Entertainment Group

BarWest Gaming, L.L.C.

Bay Mills Indian Community

Big Lagoon Rancheria

re-elect Candice Miller for Congress

Circus Circus Michigan

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Tigers

Four Winds Casino

Gateway Casino Resorts, L.L.C.

Hawaii Entertainment L.L.C.

Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians

MotorCity Casino

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

Port Huron/Thomas Edison Inn Casino

(1996) Proposal E – allow 3 Casinos in Detroit

(2004) Proposal 1 – Prohibit future gaming expansion in MI

Renegade Charters L.L.C.

Shinnecock Indian Nation

partial list

More:

Tom Shields

Marian Ilitch

Candice Miller