Governor’s aide briefed on megamall casino

Brian Bakst

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005 | 9:26 a.m.

ST. PAUL -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty's chief of staff got a private briefing Wednesday on a proposed casino at the Mall of America, but the Republican administration is remaining publicly neutral on whether slots, blackjack or other games should land there.

Developer Nader Ghermezian met with Pawlenty adviser Dan McElroy for 45 minutes about his family's $1 billion mall expansion plan with the casino as its centerpiece. The Ghermezian group avoided reporters afterward, but a spokesman for the governor said no commitments were made.

"The governor does not want to get in the business of picking one site or another," Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said.

Pawlenty wants the Legislature to authorize a new Twin Cities casino in which the state and three northern Indian tribes would work together and share the profits. The tribes would have to come up with a $200 million licensing fee and turn over about $100 million a year going forward. The host community would also see a cut.

Minnesota's existing casinos are operated exclusively by Indian tribes, and they aren't required to share profits with the government.

McClung said the plan, which isn't in written form yet, would require the host community's governing board -- and not necessarily voters -- to pass a resolution backing the casino construction.

"The governor is only interested in having this state-tribal partnership casino somewhere where the community would want it and support it," McClung said. "We suspect there would be a lot of communities interested in having this."

Bill Griffith, a Ghermezian attorney who took part in the meeting, didn't immediately return a call.

Meanwhile legislators from the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, where the megamall is located, say they would demand that a local referendum be held before a mall casino moves ahead.

"We stand opposed, united and seamless," said Rep. Dan Dorman, a Democrat. "We don't want it in Bloomington."

Republican Sen. Bill Belanger expressed frustration over the casino debate, which he said is being conducted underground. He included Pawlenty in that criticism

"He's operated behind my back. At this point I can't trust him," Belanger said.

McClung disputed the assertion that too much is happening behind closed doors. Pawlenty has been open about his intentions, he said.