Buffett lobbyist wants Seminole gaming info
Singer spoke briefly to governor on issue

By Jim Ash
News-Press Capital Bureau
Copyright © 2007 Ft. Myers News-Press
Thursday, December 27, 2007

TALLAHASSEE — Jimmy Buffett, the Florida troubadour, environmental activist, Parrothead-In-Chief and soon-to-be casino mogul, wants to know more about Gov. Charlie Crist’s gambling compact with the Florida Seminoles.

A lobbyist for the singer’s estimated $100 million a year restaurant, food and clothing empire recently requested a meeting with the governor’s chief of staff to discuss “the gaming issue,” according to e-mails obtained in a public records request.

“Do you have 15 minutes in the next two weeks to chat about the gaming issue?” Tallahassee lobbyist Jeff Sharkey wrote to Crist chief of staff George LeMieux earlier this month. “I know you’re probably tired of it. The governor and Buffett talked about it and I want to get your insight into an idea.”

“Let’s see what we can work out,” LeMieux responded on Dec. 13.

That meeting has yet to take place.

LeMieux was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.

Sharkey Wednesday said the singer has no plans to build a casino in Florida, although he acknowledged that he wants to know more about Crist’s controversial $100 million a year deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to allow Las Vegas-style gambling at their casinos.

“The governor expressed an interest in meeting with him at some point,” Sharkey said.

The Seminole deal is being challenged in the Florida Supreme Court by House Speaker Marco Rubio. The West Miami Republican is a gambling opponent and argues that Crist overstepped his constitutional authority by failing to seek legislative approval.

The governor and the Margaritaville crooner met Nov. 1 in Tampa and spoke briefly before Buffett performed a concert at the Ford Amphitheatre, Sharkey said. Afterward, Crist bound onto the stage and introduced Buffett and his band, The Coral Reefers, to 20,000 adoring fans.

Sharkey said the two had a “cordial” 20-minute conversation and discussed the gaming compact as well as Crist’s energy conservation push and his moves to slow regulators from downgrading the protective status of the Florida Manatee. Buffett is a famous champion of the Florida sea cow and a member of the Save the Manatee Club.

Buffett the businessman is having a good year.

In May, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. announced a partnership with Buffett to build a $700 million Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Miss., Buffett’s native state.

Earlier this week, the Orlando Business Journal reported that Buffett’s Margaritaville Enterprises LLC just signed a 10-year lease on 62,500 square feet of commercial space in Orlando to be used as a corporate headquarters and for storing parrothead — the self-named moniker of his die-hard fans — merchandise.

On Wednesday, Harrah’s announced that the National Indian Gaming Commission will approve a $17 billion deal to allow Harrah’s to be bought by Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group in the largest casino buyout ever.

Commission approval was necessary because Harrah’s also owns tribal casinos.

Harrah’s corporate spokeswoman Jacqueline Peterson could not be reached for comment Wednesday.