SACRAMENTO — In no time at all, they have established California's fastest growing industry and have become a powerful force in statehouse politics. Now the state's fabulously prosperous casino tribes are the major players in a historic campaign drama: the gubernatorial recall.
Having contributed or spent $11.1 million in the recall campaign, the tribes have much at stake in the contest to determine who sits in the Capitol's big corner office.
The next governor will play a pivotal role in deciding the future of the $5-billion tribal casino industry, while shaping the debate over how much gambling revenue tribes should share with the state.
California's most powerful gambling tribes have put their money squarely behind the candidacies of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, and state Sen. Tom McClintock, a Republican from Thousand Oaks. Some have reaffirmed their support of Gov. Gray Davis.
In statements from the campaign trail and written responses to a series of questions from The Times, all three politicians make it clear that they regard the tribes as sovereign powers best treated with respect. Tribal gambling, they say, has been a boon to the state, creating an entirely new job sector while improving the lives of long-impoverished Native Americans.
If the tribes have a public enemy, it is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Republican front-runner has drawn anger by calling tribes "special interests" and criticizing them for not paying taxes on profits. Last week, Schwarzenegger lashed out in a TV advertisement spotlighting huge tribal donations.
To counter that campaign assault, the tribes have launched an all-fronts war to keep Schwarzenegger from becoming governor.
Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, called Schwarzenegger's advertisement an "act of desperation by team Arnold." He noted that the Schwarzenegger campaign includes Bob White and Sean Walsh, aides to former Gov. Pete Wilson, whom Macarro called "an enemy of Indian gaming."
Macarro also said that Schwarzenegger is "clearly out of sync" with the 68% of California voters who supported Proposition 1A, the Indian gaming initiative that voters approved in 2000.
Most of the tribal campaign spending has come from the Pechanga band and three other tribes that control major Southern California casinos. They have bought large chunks of television time -- nearly $3-million worth of ads to run about two weeks -- for ads praising Bustamante or encouraging conservatives to cast their ballots for McClintock.
