Nominee to head Indian agency defends ties to tribe Story-Date: 09:49 a.m. PST Thursday , October 30, 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------ Nominee to head Indian agency defends ties to tribe By Philip Brasher Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton's choice to run the Bureau of Indian Affairs today said he would not be influenced by his lobbying work for a New Mexico tribe that operates a casino and has contributed heavily to the Democratic Party. Kevin Gover, an Albuquerque, N.M., attorney, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee there was nothing wrong with the Tesuque Pueblo's $50,000 in contributions to the Democratic National Committee or his attendance at a White House coffee in 1995. Gover said he encouraged his client tribes to make such contributions but pledged that he is "not going to be influenced by who gave contributions to whom. Period." The Tesuque Pueblo and other New Mexico tribes were involved in a long-running court battle over the validity of agreements they signed with Gov. Gary Johnson in 1995 to operate casinos in the state. The Supreme Court recently rejected an appeal by the tribes. An anti-gambling group has urged senators to reject Gover's nomination because of his advocacy for tribal gambling interests. Another Senate committee is considering allegations that political contributions influenced the Interior Department's denial of a casino proposal in Hudson, Wis. Gover said he had not discussed that matter with Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, which provides a wide array of services to reservations, from law enforcement to education and welfare, has long been considered one of the worst-run government agencies. Gover, 42, a member of Oklahoma's Pawnee tribe and a graduate of Princeton University, said he did not "plan a sweeping reorganization" but promised "hundreds and perhaps thousands of little changes that can transform the agency." ------------------------------------------------------------