Redding Rancheria's Influence in City Council Election Raises Eyebrows

The Redding Rancheria, a Native American tribe, has made significant campaign contributions to several candidates in the Redding City Council election, including an incumbent they supported four years ago. This move has sparked discussions about the tribe's influence and the potential implications for the city's political landscape.

Uncovering the Tribe's Campaign Contributions

Spreading the Wealth Across Candidates

The Redding Rancheria has contributed a combined $15,000 to three different candidates in the Redding City Council election. Councilman Mark Mezzano, as well as challengers Dr. Paul Dhanuka and David Backues, have each received $5,000 from the tribe, according to public campaign financial disclosures.This move by the tribe is a departure from their previous strategy. In the 2020 election, the Redding Rancheria had thrown its weight behind Mezzano, contributing a substantial $31,000 to his campaign. The tribe's increased involvement in the current election cycle has raised eyebrows, as it suggests a more diversified approach to influencing the city's political landscape.

The Tribe's High Stakes in the Casino Relocation

The stakes for the Redding Rancheria were particularly high four years ago, when the tribe's plan to relocate its Win River Casino and Resort had not yet been approved by the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. The project was finally given the green light by the BIA in July, a significant milestone for the tribe.Prior to the 2020 election, the Redding Rancheria had also filed a lawsuit against the city of Redding and a private group, Shasta Lake Holdings LLC, over the sale of city-owned land off Interstate 5 to the private group. The tribe argued that this deal could "kill" its plan to relocate the casino, further underscoring the high stakes involved.

Mezzano's Vocal Opposition to the Land Sale

Interestingly, Mezzano, who had not yet been elected to the council at the time, was highly critical of the land sale. A judge later ruled in May 2022 that the sale had violated the law, lending credence to the tribe's concerns.This episode highlights the complex web of relationships and interests at play in the Redding City Council election. The Redding Rancheria's campaign contributions and legal actions suggest a concerted effort to shape the city's political landscape in a way that aligns with the tribe's priorities, particularly when it comes to the casino relocation project.

Diverse Candidates Vying for Council Seats

The Redding City Council election features a diverse array of candidates, each with their own backgrounds and priorities. Mezzano is running for the remaining two years of the seat vacated by Michael Dacquisto, who retired in June. Challengers Dhanuka, a physician, and Backues, a real estate broker, are running for one of the two four-year seats on the November 5th ballot.Mezzano has expressed his support for Dhanuka, Backues, and challenger Mike Littau, an insurance broker who is also running for a four-year seat. Meanwhile, business owner and developer Joshua Johnson, who was temporarily appointed to fill Dacquisto's seat, is running for a four-year seat, and Ian Hill, who ran for council and lost in 2022, is the fifth person on the ballot for one of the two four-year seats.The race for the two-year seat features former Redding City Councilwoman and business owner Erin Resner and business owner Anthony Spengler, both running against Mezzano.

Dhanuka Leads in Fundraising

Among the candidates, Dhanuka has raised the most money for his campaign, bringing in $75,950 to date, including a $25,000 loan he made to his campaign. The Redding Rancheria has been Dhanuka's largest contributor, followed by Paragon Medical Management Group of Redding ($2,500) and Redding real estate broker Josh Barker ($2,075).Backues and Mezzano have each raised a little over $16,000 to date, with the Rancheria being their largest contributor as well. Both candidates have also loaned their respective campaigns $10,000.Littau, who has collected $16,600 in contributions to date, has received the lion's share of his funding from a $10,000 contribution he gave his campaign, as well as a $6,000 loan.Resner has raised just under $20,000, with the largest contribution of $5,500 coming from Andrew Randall of Mesa Tacos & Tequila in Eagle, Idaho. Redding home builder Jeb Allen of Palomar Builders and Redding insurance broker Steven Williams have each contributed $1,000 to her campaign.Johnson, Hill, and Spengler have not received any contributions to date.The Redding Rancheria's significant campaign contributions to multiple candidates in the Redding City Council election have undoubtedly added an extra layer of complexity to the race. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the tribe's influence and the potential implications for the city's future will undoubtedly be a topic of intense discussion and scrutiny.