Officials defend California casino deal, fight recall

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003 | 11:15 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Members of the Rohnert Park City Council targeted for recall because of their support for an Indian casino are fighting back.

In an official rebuttal Monday, council members insisted they're doing the right thing.

"The choice for the City Council was clear: Work with the tribe and gain $200 million, or let them work independently and gain nothing," Mayor Armando Flores said. "The City Council acted in a responsible manner, faithful to our elected office."

Flores' comments were included in his response to citizens who want to recall him and three other members of the City Council for not fighting the casino and resort planned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. The tribe's partner in the project is Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas.

In exchange for approval of the casino, the tribe last week offered Sonoma County $120 million and the city of Rohnert Park another $200 million. The money would help the local governments deal with casino effects on traffic, police, fire and other municipal services, the Los Angeles Times reported. The money would be paid over 20 years, the newspaper said.

The recall backers don't believe official hands are tied.

"The worst thing you can do is roll over and play dead and say 'It's a done deal,' " Linda Lamb, a lifetime Rohnert Park resident, said.

Recall proponents are upset about the casino, planned for a site on the western edge of Rohnert Park. They have targeted Flores, Vickie Vidak-Martinez, Amie Spradlin and Greg Nordin.

They also are seeking to recall three members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors -- Valerie Brown, Tim Smith and Mike Kerns.

In her formal response, Brown said she doesn't support a tribal casino anywhere in Sonoma County.

"Sadly, federal law allows tribes to develop land without regard to local land-use decisions," she said.

Brown said officials can refuse to work with the tribe and get nothing, as the county did with the River Rock Casino in Alexander Valley, or they can try to get tribes to help ease the impact.

"Whichever choice, one outcome is certain -- the tribe will build a casino," she said.