Prop. 5, the November ballot measure that proposes legalizing disputed slot machines on Indian lands around California, is expected to be one of the most hotly debated topics at the state Republican Party convention in Long Beach.
"There's been more mail and faxes on this than anything I've ever seen," said Mike Spence, assistant treasurer for the state party and co-author of a resolution urging the GOP to oppose Prop. 5. "It's been pretty amazing."
Both sides have been lobbying delegates as they try to corral enough support for their opposing views.
But the most influential letter may be one that is asking the party not to take a stand. The letter is signed by all but one of the nine statewide Republican candidates, including U.S. Senate nominee Matt Fong. Gubernatorial nominee Dan Lungren, an opponent of the measure, did not sign.
"Since this is not an ideological or philosophical debate, the Republican Party is not required to be involved," the candidates wrote.
Dan Pellesier, a spokesman for the Indian tribes backing Prop. 5, said neutrality may be the best option on a measure that has Republican allies on both sides.
"I think it's probably the right place to be," Pellesier said. "We'd always like to have the party support our position, but here again, with the statewide candidates saying the party should take a neutral position, we should probably fall in line behind them."
Independent-minded party activists haven't always fallen in line. Earlier this year, delegates rejected pleas from GOP leaders and voted to support Prop. 227, the successful measure on the June ballot that eliminated bilingual education in public schools.
Just last weekend, the California Republican Women Federated ignored the statewide candidates' suggestion to stay neutral on Prop. 5 and voted to oppose the initiative.
Joe Gelman, co-author of the resolution to oppose Prop. 5, predicted a similar vote this weekend.
"I have no doubt that the trend in general with the party faithful is to be against the expansion of gambling in California," Gelman said.
Prop. 5 is expected to become the most expensive initiative campaign in state history, with the two sides raising nearly $25 million, according to the latest spending reports.
The measure, which is leading in statewide polls, would legalize slot machines, which Gov. Wilson contends are now illegal in California. Prop. 5 would also require future governors to sign agreements with any tribe that wants to open a casino on its land.
Efforts to rally Republican support for Prop. 5 may have been hampered by a letter the "Yes on 5" campaign recently sent to Los Angeles Democrats. In it, they expressed support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gray Davis.
"Most of us are Democrats and want and need nominee Gray Davis to be our next governor," wrote Mary Ann Martin Andreas, chairwoman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Daniel Tucker, head of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.
"That is really going to cause them some problems as they go into the convention, in trying to get support from the Republican Party," said Kevin Jeffries, vice chairman of the Riverside County Republican Central Committee.
Assemblyman Brett Granlund, the Yucaipa Republican who has drafted a resolution supporting Prop. 5, said a neutral stand may be the best supporters can hope for at the convention.
Published 9/24/1998