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Davis Gambling Pact Tracks Campaign Cash

SACRAMENTO, California – As reported by the Associated Press: "As Gov. Gray Davis was fighting to keep his job this month, he negotiated, for the second time within weeks, a gambling agreement with an Indian tribe that made a nearly concurrent contribution to his campaign to avoid being recalled by voters.

"Davis' administration concluded negotiations with the Fort Mojave tribe Oct. 3, four days before the Oct. 7 recall election and four days after the Needles-area tribe contributed $25,000 to Davis and $25,000 to Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's campaign for governor, campaign finance records show.

"In mid-September, the La Posta tribe contributed $50,000 to the same Davis-controlled Californians Against the Costly Recall committee and $5,000 to Bustamante, nine days after signing a gambling agreement with Davis.

"Neither tribe had made any previous political contributions. They are two of the four tribes with which Davis negotiated gambling agreements just before the recall election.

"…Spokesmen for Davis and the tribe denied any connection.

"…Davis announced the agreement with the 1,100-member Fort Mojave tribe on Monday. It would let the tribe operate a casino on 300 acres of undeveloped off-reservation land 3 1/2 miles west of Needles, making the tribe the first to operate casinos in three states…"

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