Indians Dodge Roger on Gambling Concession

Roger Hedgecock, gambling man.

The competition is fierce for the lucrative contract to handle gambling (bingo, poker, off-track betting) at the Rincon Indian Reservation north of Escondido.

There are big bucks in Indian gambling; the Sycuan tribe in East County, for example, had a $30-million handle this year for its off-track wagering.

The Rincon leaders have yet to decide which of several bidders will run the tribe’s gambling operation.

This much is known, though: Roger Hedgecock, 45, and his partner, (Big Al) Zennedjian, 61, owner of two Chula Vista card room licenses and former owner of a fleet of industrial catering trucks, are out of the running.

Just why depends on whom you talk to.

Jim Fletcher, administrator at Rincon, said Hedgecock made a powerful presentation to the Tribal Council about projected profits.

But some members of the council, Fletcher said, were reluctant to deal with Hedgecock because of his past legal problems.

Zennedjian and Hedgecock tell it differently: They say they withdrew out of frustration with the bickering and bureaucracy of the council.

If their bid had been successful, the up-front money to get under way (estimated at $250,000) would have come from two businessmen, one from Los Angeles and one from San Diego. Neither Hedgecock nor Zennedjian would identify the businessmen.

Zennedjian said Hedgecock would have gotten a slice of the profits, but would have had no role in the day-to-day operations.

“I have two jobs already (in radio and television),” Hedgecock said. “I’m not interested in a third.”

Zennedjian said he met Hedgecock when the latter was a county supervisor and Zennedjian was dealing with the county over regulations for catering trucks.

Zennedjian has retained Hedgecock in the past to deal with the Chula Vista City Council over his card room licenses. He loves the guy.

“If Roger ran again (for office) right now, I would sell my house to help him,” Zennedjian said.

“This guy is smart. . . . He can outsmart any S.O.B. in the county.”

Cops Join Trolley Freeloaders

The San Diego City Council, after agonized debate, voted, 7 to 2, on Tuesday to allow off-duty San Diego police officers to ride the San Diego Trolley free.

Councilwomen Judy McCarty and Abbe Wolfsheimer worried about the propriety of city employees, even cops, getting freebies. The majority disagreed.

“I can’t think of any instance where an officer could be corrupted by riding public transit free,” Councilman Bruce Henderson said.

By the way, cops won’t be the only ones riding the trolley without paying.

County Marshal Michael Sgobba says there are 85,000 outstanding warrants for people who have been cited for riding without a ticket, then neglecting to pay the fine.

Many of the freeloaders, Sgobba said, have dozens of citations.

Because of jail crowding and lack of personnel, Sgobba said, the warrants will never be served:

“Only the honest or the foolish pay to ride the trolley.”

Money Absolutely Interests Artists

Off and running.

* Art for money’s sake.

Art critics snub the art commissioned by Absolut vodka as unworthy of comment. Artists seem to have a different view.

The Laura Larkin Art Gallery in Del Mar, where the Absolut Artists of the Nineties show runs through Monday, has been swamped with calls from local artists.

All asking how they can get an Absolut commission.

* Conny McCormack, San Diego County registrar of voters, is among nine Americans selected to oversee next week’s first-ever presidential election in Armenia. To watch for ballot stuffing and other hanky-panky.

* San Diego bumper sticker: “A Dog Is Forever, Not Just for Christmas.”

* San Diego Councilwoman Judy McCarty will soon announce her candidacy for the Board of Supervisors. For the seat now held by Susan Golding.

Also rumored to be interested: Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego), despite his protestations that he’s happy in Sacramento.