Cowlitz casino developer David Barnett is using his not-so-subtle political strategy in Snohomish County, Wash. —and it is reminiscent of his past activity in Clark County.
According to today’s Seattle Times, Barnett told Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers and an aide that “he was prepared to spend $2.5 million to unseat Somers if he continued his opposition to Barnett’s proposed development.”
Barnett wants to build up to 6,000 houses in a rural area there and, according to the Times, has been sending out mailings accusing Somers of “being against affordable homes and jobs, and for sprawl and global warming.”
The Times article reports on some of Barnett’s Clark County escapades, including the $100,000 that he, his then-wife and company donated to a political action committee in 2005. The PAC spent more than $86,000 on seven mailings against casino opponent Tom Mielke, who was running for Clark County commissioner. The mailings landed in mailboxes in the 15 days before the election, and Mielke lost the race to current Commissioner Steve Stuart with 48 percent of the vote.
In 2006, Barnett’s threats against the chairwoman of the anti-casino group Stand Up for Clark County Citizens landed him a restraining order.
(Local stories are available in the archives of The Columbian (Feb. 22 and Feb. 25, 2006) and the Longview Daily News (Feb. 16 and 28, 2006).)
The Times reports that Somers and his aide reported Barnett’s recent comment to the Snohomish County prosecutor, who is investigating whether Barnett was intimidating a public servant—a Class B felony.
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For more information, check out the CARS Web site:
Who’s behind the proposed casino project?
Many of CARS’ stories about this casino proposal describe it as the work of “the Cowlitz Tribe.” But every time we attribute it to “the Tribe,” we wince.
The casino project is being driven by the Salishan-Mohegan partnership, which includes:
+ the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (49.15 percent)
+ David Barnett (Salishan Co.), son of the late tribal Chairman John Barnett (sharing 43 percent with the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians)
+ the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, California (sharing 43 percent with David Barnett)
+ the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut (7.85 percent)
According to the development agreement, the partnership would receive fees equal to 3 percent of total project costs. The management agreement states that Salishan-Mohegan would manage, operate and maintain the casino-resort for seven years and earn 24 percent of annual net revenues.
We want to be clear: CARS is critical of the casino proposal and the way it has been pursued. Beyond its involvement in the casino, we have no issue with the Cowlitz Tribe.
The casino project is being driven by the Salishan-Mohegan partnership, which includes:
+ the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (49.15 percent)
+ David Barnett (Salishan Co.), son of the late tribal Chairman John Barnett (sharing 43 percent with the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians)
+ the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, California (sharing 43 percent with David Barnett)
+ the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut (7.85 percent)
According to the development agreement, the partnership would receive fees equal to 3 percent of total project costs. The management agreement states that Salishan-Mohegan would manage, operate and maintain the casino-resort for seven years and earn 24 percent of annual net revenues.
We want to be clear: CARS is critical of the casino proposal and the way it has been pursued. Beyond its involvement in the casino, we have no issue with the Cowlitz Tribe.
About CARS
Citizens Against Reservation Shopping (CARS) is a group of Clark County, Wash., citizens formed in June 2005 and led by longtime Vancouver businessman and civic leader Edward Lynch.
CARS opposes the Cowlitz Tribe's plan to build a casino in Clark County in part because it objects to the practice of "reservation shopping." This is the practice of selecting an ideal casino site and then working to have it given reservation status.