Election
Smoke Signals
ED LARSEM
Hi, my name is Ed Larsen. I have been on Tribal
Council since 1992.. I currently serve as your Vice
chairman. I thank you for your votes in the past and I
ask you for your support in the upcoming election.
I believe I have demonstrated the ability to show I can
get the job done. Here are a few examples:
1. I was on the committee that picked our consulting
team for gaming. As you know, our Casino is the big
gest and best in the Northwest. It is also the number one
tourist attraction in Oregon. I still serve on the Spirit
Mountain Development Board of Directors.
2. I helped pick the Gaming Commission Director
and Commissioners. We have one of the best commis
sions around. People ask us for advice.
3. I was on the Housing Advisory Board. Tribal
Council picked the Commissioners for the Housing Au
thority from our recommendations. We have just about
completed Grand Meadows, our mobile home park. We
are also well on our way to our second project: Elder
rental housing, which should be done next year.
4. I was on the team that re-negotiated the sate gam
ing compact. We got extra games that helped our rev
enue immensely.
The following is a list of current projects I am work
ing on:
1. Helping negotiate a partnership with the Polk and
Yamhill County Sheriffs departments for more cover
age in the West Valley. Also we need to think about
starting our own tribal police.
2. Once again we need water. We need to find a new
source. Also the sewer system needs to be improved.
3. I am working on committee to do a stewardship
program with the Tribe, BLM, and the U.S. Forest Ser
vice.! This will be of great benefit to the Tribe.
Other committees and boards I serve on:
1. Tribal Governments and Budget
2. Economic Development
3. Legislative
4. Land Acquisition Team
5. I represent the Tribe on three county boards also.
The Yamhill Community Action Planning Team, Yam
hill County Head Start, and The Polk County Service
Integration Team.
Last but not least, I am on the Rodeo Committee. We
resurrected the Rodeo in 1996. I had a lot of great help
ers and we earned the honor of Best New Rodeo of the
Year. It is now an annual event.
I am proud of the things we have accomplished since I
have been on Tribal Council. The health plan, retire
ment, and dividend payments stand out. Also the ex
pansion of the education programs. We still have a ways
to go, but we are getting there. We need to keep diver
sifying our economic base. We are doing this with de
velopers with much experience. We need also to work
more with our Small Business owners of the Tribe. They
need to be working. By this I mean that Spirit Moun
tain Corporation helping our members who have small
businesses.
I have gained a lot of experience and built many rela
tionships. Some of these relationships are with county
commissioners of Polk and Yamhill counties, some leg
islators of the state, as well as some Congress people. I
also know the Bureau of Indian Affairs director in the
Portland office.
As you can see, I have a very busy schedule, but still
have an open door policy. If you can't stop by, give me
a call if you have a question or concern. If I don't know
the answer, I will do my best to find out. Many of you
already know this, but I would like to extend this invita
tion for those who don't.
In closing I would like to leave you with a saying I try
to live by. It is: "I shall pass this day but once. There
fore, any good I can do or any kindness I can show my
fellow man, let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall
not pass this day again. "
Everyone should vote. Last year's election was de
cided by two votes. Your vote is important, and I am
asking for it. If you have any questions of me, please
write: Ed Larsen, Box 153, Grand Ronde, Oregon
97347. Call (503) 879-5360.
!
K
T
J. UEN GREGG
For those of you who don't recognize the face, you
might the name. It's J. Ken Gregg, a proud, traditional
Grand Ronde tribal member and Vietnam veteran, run
ning for one of the three Tribal Council positions. For
those who don't know the name, ask a family member
as I have been heavily involved in tribal member issues
in the past. Regardless of who the member is or where
they live. I could list my family heritage, but this would
be self-serving on my part, as I consider you all family.
My interests and issues are not mine alone, but have
been brought to me by many of our own people and I
have taken each and every one of these challenges to
find some common ground or resolve. Issues like the
plight of our homeless men, women, and children, in
cluding some of our treasured Elders. Poverty is some
thing as Native Americans we have had to live with for
years, and even with our new found tribal wealth, it still
unexplainably exists within our people. (Why?)
Diversity in our tribal projects and developments is
great, but when even a small percentage doesn't take
place on our own land and employ our own people, who
for one reason or another are not employable at our ma
jor development, the Casino, then who really benefits?
Our people need jobs, and they are not asking for hand
outs. We are a proud people.
Rather than addressing each and every issue, I will list
a few. I have been asked to address insurance for tribal
spouses, affordable housing for Elders, and low-income
increased education for not only our youth but all tribal
members so we can depend more on our own people for
self-reliance. Publication of all Tribal Council voting
records, communicating more effectively with tribal
members outside the Six County Service Area, and re
viewing per-capita. These are a few I am addressing.
Please feel free in contacting me with the ones you feel
passionately about or opinions on the ones I have just
listed, for the only thing I would ask of all candidates,
regardless of the outcome of this election is that you
make a commitment to work with the Tribe, the com
mittees, and Council to resolve these issues over the next
year as I intend to do.
Having served as Vice-President of a national multi
billion dollar industry for seven years, and working
closely with the last two administrations, I feel I am
politically well-positioned to deal with our federal and
state legislators.
Please do not mistake my message or intent. I am
personally very proud of each and every past and present
Council member for the fine job they have done in the
past, and would strive myself to uphold this fine tradi
tion if given the opportunity.
I am but a singular voice, but a voice of many. My
dedication and direction is by your will. I am approach
able, responsible, and will get the job done. In closing,
I would like to thank you in advance for your support.
i-