Former Governor Booth Gardner has been spearheading a high-profile anti-gambling crusade as one of the founders of the recently formed Citizens Against Gambling Expansion (CAGE), which says it opposes all forms of gambling expansion in Washington State. But Gardner’s ties to Northwest Strategies, a public affairs firm that does work for Indian gaming interests, raises questions about his public stance.
Faced with accusations of a conflict of interest–last week The Stranger reported claims by nontribal gambling lobbyists that Gardner was tied to Native American gaming interests [“Dunking Booth,” Sandeep Kaushik, March 6]–CAGE insists it is a separate and distinct third force divorced from both tribal and nontribal gaming interests, and espouses a blanket opposition to all forms of gambling expansion. Gardner cofounded CAGE with King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng.
But CAGE’s opponents point out that Gardner works part-time for Northwest Strategies, founded by former Gardner campaign manager Ron Dotzauer. On the firm’s website, Gardner is listed as a member of the “accounts team,” and he maintains an office at the company, located in the Queen Anne neighborhood.
Northwest Strategies, according to Dotzauer, does do work for the Tulalip tribe, including creating television advertising campaigns and “other stuff.” The Tulalips own one major casino in Marysville, and are currently expanding their gambling operation, building a second, $72 million casino slated to open in June.
One Olympia source, speaking on condition of anonymity, also says it is common knowledge among gambling lobbyists that early last summer Gardner accompanied Dotzauer to the Muckleshoot casino in Auburn, where the two made a business pitch on behalf of Northwest Strategies to the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA).
Dotzauer concedes that the WIGA pitch meeting took place, but minimizes its importance. He describes it as “a one-time, 15-minute pitch,” and emphasizes that Northwest Strategies did not get the WIGA contract. He says Gardner does no work on the firm’s Tulalip account, and describes attempts by nontribal gaming interests to link Gardner to tribal gaming as a “silly, silly, stupid stunt.” Furthermore, he says, “Attacking the character of Booth is ridiculous.” The WIGA did not return our call.
Gardner flatly denies that he or CAGE is fronting for tribal gaming advocates, or has a financial stake in the outcome of the debate. He says he attended the WIGA meeting as a favor to Dotzauer, who is a close friend, adding that he is “not getting a penny” for his efforts on behalf of CAGE, and that he accepted a role in the organization because he has long believed that expanded gambling is a mistake. “I’ve never worked for the Indians,” he says. He adds that the pro- gambling camp’s claim that his wife works at Northwest Strategies is untrue.
The nontribal gambling expansion bills currently before the state legislature have prompted fierce debate and lobbying efforts, which pit tribal casino operators, who fear that expanded nontribal gaming will cut into their casino business, against the Entertainment Industry Coalition (EIC)–currently lobbying the legislature to allow video slots in mini-casinos, restaurants, and other nontribal venues. The EIC contends that given the expansion of Indian gaming currently under way, it is only fair that nontribal gambling venues enjoy some of the same concessions as the tribes.
The EIC has alleged that CAGE, which boasts the support of more than 130 elected officials and community leaders around the state, is surreptitiously linked to, and possibly funded by, tribal gaming advocates.
On February 13, the EIC filed a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) questioning CAGE’s source of funding by pointing out that CAGE uses the same public relations firm as Washington Council for Tribal Self-Reliance, an Indian gaming lobbying group, and had not raised any money on its own. The EIC also alleges that CAGE has violated state law by intensively lobbying against the legislative proposals without making the requisite filings with the PDC. PDC spokesperson Doug Ellis says the complaint is presently under active investigation.
With respect to Gardner, Lincoln Ferris, executive director of the EIC, says, “I think the underlying question here is did Booth do this because the Tulalips came to him and said, ‘Gee, this would be helpful to us.’ Is he motivated by truly altruistic motives or is it enlightened self-interest?”
Kent Patton, CAGE’s spokesperson, says that such claims are false. Patton says when CAGE organizers asked Gardner to join the effort, “We did ask him specifically whether it could be in any way construed that he had gaming ties, and he said, ‘Absolutely not.'” CAGE remains completely convinced of the sincerity of Gardner’s opposition to gambling, he adds.
