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Tribe leader blasts governor

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The head of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, in a pointed letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, withdrew an earlier offer to be a partner of the state of Minnesota on joint gambling proposals.

Melanie Benjamin, the band's chief executive, levied several criticisms at the governor, including his decision to appear in election ads for House Republican candidates that called for Indian tribes to make revenue payments to the state.

"You led a political smear campaign," Benjamin wrote, "in a deliberate attempt to turn undeserved animosity toward Indian gaming and Indian people into votes for Republican candidates."

Dan McElroy, Pawlenty's chief of staff, said that he had talked to Pawlenty about the letter and that "we were surprised and disappointed, but our position hasn't changed."

Benjamin, whose tribe's casinos at Hinckley and Lake Mille Lacs are the second most profitable in the state, had broken with other tribes in August to propose a joint partnership with the state. In return for new casino games and simulcast horse-race betting, Benjamin said the tribe could offer contributions toward a Vikings or Twins stadium.

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