SACRAMENTO — With the clock ticking on the Davis administration, the governor's office is offering last-minute concessions to the state's powerful casino tribes by moving to change the balance of the gambling control commission and oust its top legal advisor, according to the commission chairman.
Acting Chairman Arlo Smith said he was asked last week by a Davis administration official to fire the board's general counsel, who earlier this year had been singled out by an Indian leader as a source of antagonism for casino tribes.
Smith said that he had refused to ax Pete Melnicoe, but that the official had then told him that the governor had no choice but to appoint two new commissioners who would support the ouster.
Davis press secretary Steven Maviglio said Saturday that he could not confirm or deny the call. However, he said the governor's appointment secretary, Michael Yamaki, had told him that Yamaki was unaware of any such conversation. Maviglio said Davis would not be making any more appointments that require Senate approval unless Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) notifies Davis that Burton will call the body back into session while Davis is still governor.
Members of the five-member commission are appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation. The commission -- which is charged with supervising all gambling establishments and ensuring that they are not owned or managed by people deemed a threat to the public health, safety or welfare -- has two vacancies. Commissioners also oversee a revenue-sharing trust fund to which tribal casinos must contribute.
Smith confirmed the incident after a former commission chairman and anti-gambling activist complained to reporters about the ouster effort. Smith, a Davis appointee, refused to say who had approached him.
Several of the state's biggest gambling tribes contributed more than $10 million to oppose the governor's recall and to support foes of Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. During the campaign, Schwarzenegger angered the tribes with ads accusing his opponents of pandering to Indians and not taxing their casinos. Davis himself has received $1 million in political donations from tribes this year.
