Press Release
For Immediate Release

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CNIGA Announces Election Results

January 11, 2013

Newly elected officers of the California Nations Indian Gaming Assoc. (CNIGA) are Steve Stallings, vice chairman; Eric Ramos, secretary; and Northern Californian Tribal representative Doral Bernal and Central California representative Damon Sandoval. They join Chairman Daniel Tucker and Treasurer Dennis Hendricks as the 2013-14 officers of the state’s oldest and largest advocate for economic sovereignty, representing California tribes engaged in gaming enterprises or supportive of gaming initiatives. “We ended last year on a high note with the completion of our research on the economic benefits of tribal gaming, and our ability to report to the people of California that the impact was extremely positive in terms of job creation and funding a network of service and infrastructure improvements both to the tribal governments and neighboring regions,” said Tucker adding that the strong leadership on the executive committee will ensure that CNIGA continues playing a key role as a forum for discussion of state and tribal gaming related issues and as a vehicle for unified initiatives. The economic survey and independent research completed by Beacon Economics, Inc., revealed tribal casinos generated $7.5 billion dollars and 50,000 jobs in California, as well as nearly one half billion in taxes in 2011. According to Tucker, there are significant issues of mutual interest and concern to the state and the tribes on this year’s agenda. They include internet gaming; the restoring the Indian Gaming Reservation Trust Fund, as well as regulatory and taxing issues. Vice Chairman Stallings served previously as CNIGA treasurer and is a member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians (San Diego County); Secretary Ramos was re-elected to his second term and is a member of the Blue Lake Rancheria of the Wiyot, Yurok and Hupa Indians (Humboldt County); Bernal is a member of Karuk Tribe of California (Humboldt County) and Sandoval a member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians (Riverside County). CNIGA Chairman Tucker is chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation (San Diego County) and Treasurer Hendricks is a councilmember of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians (Tuolumne County). The California Nations Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit association comprised of federally recognized tribal governments dedicated to the protection of tribal sovereignty and the right of tribes to have gaming on Indian lands.

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