Posted on 08/30/2003 4:37:04 PM PDT by backhoe
In my post on Grand River Enterprises and what might be links to the events in Caledonia, I noted that in 2003 Ken Hill, Jerry Montour, and Arthur Montour had made a joint donation of over twenty thousand dollars to the gubernatorial campaign of Cruz Bustamante, who was seeking to replace recalled Governor Gray Davis. Arnold Schwarzenegger eventually won the race to be governor of California.
At the time, I wondered what possible reason the chief officers of Grand River Enterprises, a Canadian cigarette maker on a native reserve, would have to be donating money to an American political campaign in California. My post was focused on the links between GRE and gambling, and several people pointed out that Bustamante was linked to Indian gambling interests during the campaign.
GRE was not named specifically, though.
I found a more direct link, however, between GRE and California, though this link has to do with cigarettes:
"A judgment of default has been entered against defendant Grand River Enterprises/6 Nations, Ltd. by the Sacramento County Superior Court. The defendant has been ordered to comply with California's Nonparticipating Manufacturer (NPM) Reserve Fund Statute (Health & Safety Code, sections 104555-104557) and is prohibited from selling any of its cigarettes to consumers, either directly or through a distributor, retailer, or other intermediary, within the State of California. This ban takes effect immediately and remains in effect until the defendant establishes a qualified escrow fund, deposits $195,876.93 into the escrow fund, and provides proof of its compliance with the Reserve Fund Statute to the Attorney General. The ban extends to ALL brands manufactured by Grand River Enterprises/6 Nations, including but not limited to "Scenic 101" and "Capitol" brand cigarettes. To view a copy of the judgment, click here."
This judgment was entered against GRE in December 2004. The recall election was held on October 7, 2003. The Attorney General of California who brought the charges was Bill Lockyer. Lockyer, a Democrat, voted for Schwarzenegger, and described the list of Democratic choices as "crappy":
In comments to reporters after his speech, Lockyer had this to say about why he didn't vote for his fellow Democrat: "You know the people in your profession really well. You know who works hard and who doesn't. You know who is honest and who isn't. Cops know that about cops. Doctors know that about doctors. I know that about politicians. The common thing to all these professions is none of them say it. That's all I'm going to say."
I guess he didn't say Bustamante was dishonest directly. Bustamante is known for being pro-tobacco, at least mildly:
Bustamante took nearly $80,000 from tobacco companies during his five years in the state Assembly. During that time he voted against a smoking ban in restaurants and bars that voters later approved. He then unsuccessfully pushed for a delay in implementing the ban in bars.
Could the donations have been an attempt to avoid a judgment in one particular case by helping a sympathetic politician become governor?
Just something to ponder.
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