Congressional candidates focus on Indian recognition process

Kathryn Masterson

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Early this summer, people worried that an Indian tribe in northwest Connecticut could receive federal recognition and build a casino in the Quiet Corner had begun mobilizing.

By the end of the season, Connecticut Citizens Against Casinos had drawn hundreds of people to its several forums and was working toward forming a statewide anti-casino coalition, said Mary Beth Gorke-Felice, a Woodstock innkeeper who heads the group.

Casinos and the federal process that grants tribes the recognition that opens the door to gaming complexes have occupied a prominent place in the political landscape of southeastern Connecticut for more than a decade. The area, home to the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, has seen increased traffic and demand for emergency services.

But this year, casinos and tribal recognition have stirred up the public statewide. Much of the attention comes from the June decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to recognize a historic Eastern Pequot tribe from two separate tribal applications. There's speculation about where the tribe may build a third casino in Connecticut, and worry that the BIA decision could ease the way for other tribes to get recognition and run gaming operations of their own.

Politicians have noticed.

"I think that lit a lot of fires and got a lot of people moving again," said Rep. Rob Simmons, the congressman from Eastern Connecticut's 2nd District. Simmons, a Republican, lives in Stonington, near the two casinos and the reservation shared by the tribes of the historic Eastern Pequots.

Simmons worked on casino impact issues as a state representative in the 1990s and has met with municipal and state officials to discuss an appeal of the Pequot decision. He talks passionately about the issue of reforming the recognition process, calling the recent BIA decision unanticipated, unexpected and incomprehensible.

Two years ago Simmons campaigned on reforming the BIA, accusing then-Rep. Sam Gejdenson of doing nothing about the issue. "It's an issue he ran away from," Simmons said in a November 2000 debate.

Running from the issue isn't likely to be criticism lobbied at the outspoken Simmons. But the Democratic Party and its candidate, Joe Courtney, may question whether Simmons has been effective in changing the system, says Chris Barnes, associate director for the University of Connecticut's Center for Survey Research and Analysis.

And though both candidates support a moratorium on federal recognition until the system can be reformed, Courtney could draw attention to the fact that Simmons is in the same party as the president whose administration just recognized another tribe.

"If Courtney can effectively make that argument, then he can turn the issue away from Simmons," Barnes said. "If he doesn't make that argument, than the issue is neutralized."

Neither candidate has yet made a big deal over the other's record with the issue, instead focusing on possible war with Iraq, prescription drug plans for senior citizens and the economy.

Courtney, a Vernon lawyer who headed the public health committee as a state legislator, has focused on health care and prescription drugs. But he said he expects Indian recognition to be an issue.

"Rob made it an issue two years ago and made some pretty extravagant promises," Courtney said. "I think by his own words his performance and record are an issue. He has delivered nothing."

Simmons said he expects that type of criticism, but isn't worried about it.

"There's every reason to think I have the experience and background with these issues and my opponent does not," Simmons said. "His record just doesn't stand up to mine."

It's not clear how significant the issue is for voters in the 2nd District. The district is a large one, consisting of 65 towns and covering a third of the state.

On Tuesday, UConn is expected to release its first poll on the 2nd District election. The poll does not ask specifically about casinos, but asks an open-ended issues question that could register voter interest in the issue.

Some activists in the anti-casino fight say they're staying away from endorsing one candidate or another, so they can work with all sides to halt the spread of gaming complexes in the state.

Jeff Benedict, who wrote the book "Without Reservation" questioning the legitimacy of the Mashantucket Pequots, ran against Courtney for the 2nd District nomination. After failing to get enough delegate support in July to wage a primary, Benedict has stepped up his activism, traveling the region to speak to different groups.

Casinos aren't a partisan issue, Benedict says. Publicly picking candidates would distract from the message he's sharing with Republicans and Democrats in Greenwich, Danbury, Old Lyme, New London and the dozen or so other places where he's scheduled to speak.

"The minute you do that, your message about casinos is not about casinos -- it's about politics."

Connecticut Citizens Against Casinos isn't endorsing a candidate either, Gorke-Felice said, unless one suddenly comes out in favor of new casinos.

"People will have to decide for themselves," she said.