Developer Money Roils Laguna Niguel Race

City Councilman Mark Goodman’s reelection campaign has been boosted by about $2,500 in contributions from Las Vegas casino owner Jack Binion and his employees, according to the latest financial disclosure reports.

The contributions have angered opponents of a controversial hilltop housing project who have long feuded with Goodman over his support of the development, which is owned by Binion.

“I’m not completely surprised,” said Michael Beanan, a vice president of the South Laguna Civic Assn., which is suing over the City Council’s approval of the project on a 4-1 vote last year. “I personally take exception to using gambling proceeds to influence elections in California, and I hope other people would take exception to that.”

The state-required campaign reports list individual contributions of $350 from Jack Binion and several top executives for the Las Vegas-based Horseshoes Gaming Inc. Binion or his employees could not be reached for comment.

The proposed 22-unit development has been disputed for six years by the Laguna Beach citizens group, whose homes sit below the site. Goodman, who backed Binion’s right to develop the property, had several loud verbal confrontations with association members and a handful of Laguna Niguel citizens during public hearings on the project.

Goodman said he knew there would be criticism when he solicited the funds from a Binion representative about two weeks ago.

“Since I’ve already been smeared in the past with unsubstantiated allegations (of receiving money from Binion before voting on the development), I thought there was absolutely nothing they can do to harm me,” Goodman said.

But he emphasized that “there is no connection between my actions and the contributions whatsoever. . . . If I did make a deal for my vote, I would have done it for a hell of a lot more than $2,000.”

So far, Goodman’s opponents have out-raised the incumbent by a large margin, mainly by self-financing their campaigns. Mimi Krogius Walters has raised more than $40,000, with Joe Brown and Linda Lindholm each reporting about $32,000. Goodman has raised about $9,147, with fellow incumbent Tom Wilson posting $25,569.

Wilson, who voted for the development, received no contribution from Binion or his employees.

“We can either have wealthy people in office or allow Mark Goodman to take contributions,” Goodman said. “I don’t think the amount I got from Binion was an unreasonable amount.”

Beanan said accepting money from Binion, even a year after voting for the project, is a conflict of interest for Goodman. Having several Binion employees contribute to Goodman also circumvents a Laguna Niguel ordinance that limits contributions from an individual to $350, he said.

“It may or may not be legal, but it’s certainly not in the spirit of the law,” said Beanan, who added that the association plans to file complaints with the Orange County district attorney’s office and the state Fair Political Practices Commission.