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NOVEMBER 8, 2000

A Connecticut politician who has promised to give more consideration to the views of three towns opposed to local tribes has defeated the incumbent for the House of Representatives.

With 52 percent of the popular vote, Republican Robert Simmons has been declared the winner of the 2nd District Congressional seat. He has unseated Sam Gejdenson, who has come under criticism on the suggestion that he has lost touch with the voters in the region.

For Indian Country and for tribes in the area, however, how Simmons takes on gaming, federal recognition, and land trust issues will be watched closely. Simmons supports a Congressional investigation into the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act, while Gejdenson called for mediation between the towns of Ledyard, North Stonington, and Preston and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

The primary issue in the case is land. How big should the tribe's reservation be? Simmons says Gejdenson should have addressed the issue of land annexation back in 1983 while Gejdenson says the law was never intended to limit expansion.

The dispute has not been settled yet in the eyes of the towns. They are asking the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision favoring the tribe, under the position that the tribe is now too wealthy and doesn't need the protections tribes elsewhere receive from the government.

But as tribes nationwide become financially successful and politically powerful, this position is sure to draw criticism from Indian Country. A bill introduced by Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) to prevent the Interior from taking land into trust for wealthy tribes was attacked in 1997.

In another Connecticut race, incumbent Christopher Shays has defeated challenger Stephanie Sanchez. In September, Shays joined other Republican members of the House in calling for a General Accounting Office audit of the entire federal recognition process, questioning its integrity.

Get the latest numbers:
Connecticut Results (The Washington Post)

Relevant Links:
Rep. Sam Gejdenson - www.house.gov/gejdenson
Robert Simmons www.simmonsforcongress.com
Rep. Christopher Shays - www.house.gov/shays

Related Stories:
Towns to appeal Pequot ruling (Politics 11/7)
Campaign Watch: Connecticut (Politics 11/6)
Voters not concerned with Indian issues (Politics 11/2)
Republicans call for BIA investigation (Tribal Law 9/22)
Tribes support BIA investigation (Tribal Law 9/22)
Are Pequots a campaign issue? (The Talking Circle 09/22)
Lieberman's record resurfaces (Politics 08/22)