Ilitch partner funneling thousands to influence Suffolk County Exec

Curiously, Detroit casino syndicators Michael J. Malik, Sr. and Marian Ilitch have made very few reported political contributions this past year -- the dire economic circumstances in Detroit and the attention state and federal investigators have directed toward them and the controversial candidates they seek to influence perhaps influencing their near absent check writing activity. Consider that from 2003-08 Malik and Ilitch family members contributed more than $1.1 million to political candidates and committees.

For the 2010 election cycle it has been reported that Marian Ilitch and her husband Michael Ilitch (Northern Michigan Food Services) contributed just $600 each to the Wendy's/Arby Group (a PAC) on February 17. And Malik reporting that he's self-employed contributed $2,400 on March 31 to Rep. Gary Peters, the Michigan Representative who defeated Rep. Joe Knollenberg last November.

Of note however is a $5,000 check Malik's affiliate MJM Manistee wrote to Suffolk County Executive Tom Souzzi earlier this year.

Malik and Ilitch (Gateway Casino Resorts) are bankrolling the slow moving federal recognition efforts and related legal battles for the Shinnecock Indian Nation and in return hope to one day build and manage a Shinnecock Casino & Resort somewhere on Long Island, NY -- most desirably in Suffolk County. Previously residents in the posh Hamptons resort area of Suffolk County have fought the casino development plans.

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