"If I'm advising him," Maldonado said, "I say give them special attention because they've done a great job for the community."
Another issue of concern is whether cities and counties should be compensated so they can better cope with the environmental impacts of casino developments.
"I think in Indian country there is a feeling that the state of California should live up to that 20-year deal approved by the voters, the Legislature, the governor and both political parties," said Lombardi.
"Right now we're confronted with the dilemma that county governments need money and they want to get it from the tribes because the tribes are so successful," he added.
Under the current agreements, tribes are required to contribute roughly $140 million to two special state accounts. One is an Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund for expenditures such as repairing roads, treating compulsive gamblers and subsidizing emergency rescue services. The other is used to redistribute revenues to impoverished reservations.
The Davis administration also has been engaged in talks over the last three years with tribes that haven't signed gambling compacts.
On Wednesday, he signed the first compact with a California tribe that will pay casino proceeds directly to the state treasury. The agreement with the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians in the Imperial Valley requires the tribe initially to pay the state 3% of the revenue from its first 350 slot machines; the share increases to 5% in the third year of operation.
Wednesday's announcement prompted speculation that, after years of stalled negotiations, Davis suddenly will shift gears and accelerate talks with tribes.
"It doesn't take a genius to figure this out," said I. Nelson Rose, a gambling expert and professor at the Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa. "I think we will see a couple of dozen new compacts before the recall campaign is over."
Robert Rosette, a Sacramento attorney who represents several tribes that are eager to open casinos, said his clients are watching the recall campaign closely.
"They were very surprised at Gov. Davis' sudden decision to grant Torres-Martinez that contract," he said. "They also became hopeful that they will get theirs. We will see very soon how that pans out."
Aides to Davis said that the recall campaign had no bearing on the timing of the Torres-Martinez announcement and that it is unlikely the governor will strike numerous other deals in the coming weeks.
"Nobody should view this signing ... as having anything to do with politics," said Steve Maviglio, Davis' press secretary. "These things take time. They are very complex. They last for years. They don't operate on a political calendar."
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Times staff writer Gregg Jones in Sacramento contributed to this report.
