County Council member says he was pressured by Vegas casino exec
By Paul Hampel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/05/2009

CLAYTON — The issue before the St. Louis County Council Tuesday night was casino development. And during the meeting, a touch of the rough-and-tumble ways of old Las Vegas surfaced.

The council voted 4-2 on Tuesday to approve a rezoning request that would allow the development of a controversial new casino and entertainment complex in north St. Louis County.

Voting with the majority was Steve Stenger, D-Affton.

But Stenger said Wednesday that a casino company executive from Las Vegas had not made the decision easy.

Stenger said he was paid a visit shortly before the meeting began by Daniel R. Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., and several members of Lee's entourage.

Pinnacle is building the River City Casino in Lemay, which is set to open in the spring of 2010. The company says it is investing about $357 million in the project, which is in Stenger's district. MORE METRO
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Stenger said it was the first time he had met Lee, who had flown in that afternoon from Las Vegas.

"He comes into my office 15 minutes before the meeting begins and he muscles me," Stenger said. "He said, 'This (the casino) is the largest investment your district has ever seen or will ever see. And we are asking you to vote no (on the North County rezoning issue).'"

Stenger said he could not understand why Lee would take an interest in the matter. From his perspective, he said, the Lemay casino and a potential North County gambling center would be too far apart to compete.

"I asked Lee why he cared, but he would only say, 'Voting no is the right decision to make. You need to vote no.'" Stenger said.

In addition to River City, Pinnacle opened the $507 million Lumière Place casino on Laclede's Landing in 2007 and owns the ailing President Casino nearby. Pinnacle has sued the Missouri Gaming Commission over a ruling requiring it to reapply for a gambling license if it wants to move or replace the President.

Pinnacle has announced plans to renovate the President, but last week a backer of the North County casino said the state would be better served by assigning the gambling license to the North County casino.

After Stenger cast his vote, he said, Lee got out of his seat near the back of the chambers, hurried down the side aisle and stepped up onto the council dais.

"He got about two feet from my face before someone waved him aside, telling him he could not interrupt the meeting like that," Stenger said.

Stenger said Lee then approached Stenger's assistant, Linda Henry, who was seated at the side of the dais.

"Lee says to her, loud enough for everyone to hear, 'He (Stenger) just made the worst move in his political career! I won't forget this! I never forget things like this!'" Stenger said.

Henry confirmed the incident. "He said it very menacingly," she added. "I felt threatened."