Siletz news /, January 01, 2000, Page 7, Image 7

CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS
For those of
you who do not
know me, my Siletz
Tribal affiliation
derives from my
paternal
grandmother, Ethel
Logan, a member of
one of the biggest
and oldest Tribal
families. And yes, I
am that Clifford
Case who was a victim of the 1998 illegal recall, wherein mine
and four other Tribal Council Members’ civil rights were
clearly violated.
A recall is usually investigated by members of a
business, or in this case a Tribe, against officers who are
clearly violating company/Tribal policies and/or committing
wrongs such as fraud, inappropriate use of funds, making
decisions detrimental to the company/Tribe, ect. But at the
August General Council meeting, I asked now-chairperson
Dee Pigsley three times, “Why did you have me recalled?
What wrong did I commit against the Tribe to deserve being
recalled?” Her exasperated answer was, “You don’t need a
reason for a recall!!” Well, my people!!! Those of us who were
victimized by the illegal and immoral recall know why we were
recalled. For two years, Mrs. Pigsley had been ousted from
the chairmanship of the Tribe. In her lust to regain her power
(which she has held for 16 years or so) she directed her
constituents to start the recall. If people were asked today,
“Why did you sign the recall?” most would say “I didn’t know it
was a recall petition.” As for the petitions themselves, we, the
persecuted recalled Council members, have never been
allowed to view them. The white appellate judge (Gatenbein),
who overturned our Tribal Judge Andrew Viles’ court decision,
has been rewarded by Mrs. Pigsley by being given the office
of Tribal Chief Judge.
I will not deign to sit here and promise you Tribal
Members anything. I know that the Tribal Council is a complete
dictatorship. Anything that happens on Council, happens at
the whim of Dee Pigsley. But you can begin the process of
tearing this dictatorship down! By electing people to Council
that at least will question some of the things being done by
Pigsley and her “yes” people.
Think of the millions of dollars being derived from our
timber and casino revenues!
And think of tens of thousands of dollars given by
Pigsley to her loyal “supporters.”
And then think of the $100.00 that you received out of
all those millions.
When was the last time members of this Tribe received:
A financial statement that did not say “UNAUDITED” on it?
A financial statement that a lay person could read and
understand? A financial statement that tells the true status of
some of our programs?
Please my people, you need to look inside yourselves
and ask if you are happy with what the present council is
To General Council
My name is
JoAnn Miller, my
second consecutive
is
term
up
in
February 2000, and
I served on the Tribal
Council a three-year
term in the early
1980’s.
I’ve lived in
the Siletz area all my
life and my parents were May and Roy Downey. I have five
children and six grandchildren.
Some of the committees I have served on are the Fish
and Wildlife which is now the Natural Resources Committee,
HIP, Child Protection Team, EPA, and member of the
Governors Ocean Policy Council and numerous Ad-Hoc
Committees.
The present Tribal Council is comprised of hard­
working members. We don’t always agree but are able to
discuss issues in a way that will benefit the Tribe.
I would be honored to continue serving on the Tribal
Council. Please remember recent history and elect people
that will work for all members. Our Tribe can’t afford the time
wasted of accusations and hateful attitudes.
We need to continue to move forward. Tpromise to do
my best for you.
Sincerely,
JoAnn Miller
allowing Pigsley to do, the hidden settlements, the permission
to the Tribal Attorney, to carry losing case after losing case
into the courts at the Tribe’s expense, the blatant throwing away
of our personnel manual and letting nepotism run rampant in
our administration.
By not allowing the practice of block voting to rule who
you want as leaders in our Tribe, you allow competent people
on our Tribal Council.
Thank you, I appreciate your vote.
C.W. Case Sr. #183
7