The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians was the third biggest political donor in Riverside County, California, in 2013.

The tribe donated $46,500, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. Most of the money went to V. Manuel Perez, a Democrat who is challenging County Supervisor John Benoit.

Benoit supported a controversial proposal to build a mine near the sacred Pu`eska Mountain. The tribe paid $20 million to stop the project but wants Benoit out of office anyway.

“Our heritage with Pu'éska mountain, thousands of jobs, and the quality of life for thousands of families were endangered by (Benoit’s) obstinacy,” Chairman Mark Macarro told the paper.

Get the Story:
No limits mean big campaign donations (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 3/7)

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Editorial: Pechanga Band takes action to protect sacred place (11/19)
Pechanga Band pays $20M to protect sacred site from mining (11/16)