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Casino cash, term limits on political minds

A look ahead to 2008, 2010

By Karen Holzmeister, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 08/11/2007 07:50:21 AM PDT

It's a good bet that Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, will be re-elected next year.

After all, registered Democrats dominate in the 20th Assembly District, which includes Fremont, Union City, Newark, Milpitas and parts of Hayward, Castro Valley, Sunol, Pleasanton and San Jose.

But if those odds aren't enough, gaming interests — including tribal casinos, card rooms and racetracks — are putting their money behind Torrico.

Torrico reported campaign contributions of $301,000 from January through June in reports filed with the California secretary of state.

About $70,000, or 23 percent of the total, came from

nearly three dozen groups or individuals representing or doing business with Indian casinos, card clubs and racetracks in the state.

Torrico chairs the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization, which oversees, among other things, tribal gaming and racetrack legislation.

Tribes with gaming facilities want top Assembly support for renegotiated gaming agreements between themselves and the state. The racing industry is concerned that expanded casino gambling will hurt racetrack attendance.

During an interview Thursday, Torrico said that despite the contributions, he has criticized the gaming pacts — and the record backs him up.

He once accused the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, which owns a casino west of Palm Springs, of using bullying tactics on legislators. However, his campaign accepted a $500
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contribution from the band.

Torrico said most of his campaign contributions will go the California Democratic Party, not his personal re-election campaign, because he wants more Democrats elected. Personally, Torrico said, he favors public financing of elections.

"All of my votes on the (Assembly) floor are in the interest of the residents of California and the district," Torrico insisted.

Triple play

Come 2010, voters in the State Board of Equalization's 1st District may be able to pick their representative from among three candidates. That is, if two of the candidates don't get the jobs they're now seeking.

State Sen. Don Perata,

D-Oakland, is trying to get term limits rescinded so he can serve another four-year Senate term. His district includes Castro Valley and Dublin, most of northern Alameda County, and west Contra Costa County.

Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-Brentwood, is being termed out of his 15th Assembly District seat next year and is looking to run for the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

If neither of their plans pans out, both legislators have a backup: They're registered with the California secretary of state as possible Board of Equalization candidates.

Property, sales and special taxes administered by the five-member elected board make up 37 percent of the state's income.

Board member Betty Yee of San Francisco now represents the 1st District, which includes 21 counties in Northern and Central California. She's also registered for re-election, and made a popular appearance in Hayward last March at the Eden Area United Democratic Campaign's annual St. Patrick's Day party.

Making headlines

Republican Jill Buck of Pleasanton lost out to Castro Valley Democrat Mary Hayashi last November in a race for the 18th Assembly District seat.

Buck still is making headlines, however. Her national Go Green Initiative, a program to make children environmentally conscious, is profiled in the current edition of Ebony magazine.