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Leona Jeffers
Hi! My name is
Leona Jeffers, roll
917.
My father is Leo
Delbert Jeffers, and
my grandfather was
Ira Leo Jeffers. Our
family history goes
back to the early
1700s right here in
Oregon. My great an
cestors of the Tribe are
Tillamook and Chinook.
I currently attend the University of Oregon full
time. I will be receiving my Bachelor of Science in
Ethnic Studies with a focus on Native American
History in the fall of 2000. I also currently hold a
two-year certificate in Medical Office Administra
tionMedical Records. Besides going to college full
time, I also raise swine for 4-H in Lane County and
work part-time in an after school program for at
risk children as a teaching aide.
I wanted to run for Tribal Council because I be
lieve that all voting Tribal members should have a
voice in the Tribal government and its policies. I
am aware that there have been recent problems with
the enrollment issues and many people who should
be allowed enrollment are being denied. Tribal
Council members also recently voted on a reduction
of aide to the Social Services department, specifi
cally the Benevolent Fund and emergency help.
There is also the issue of increasing the amount of
gaming revenue to the Tribal members.
The point of the recent enrollment changes was, I
thought, to keep other Tribes from dropping their
enrollment and joining the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde (CTGR) and not to exclude otherwise
eligible Tribal members. This has not been the case
and there has been many recent problems with en
rollment that should and could be very easily cor
rected. These problems are only causing a division
between family members as well as with other Tribal
members. This should not be the case. If these
possible Tribal members have sufficient blood quan
tum, can prove ancestry to the CTGR, and have the
necessary paperwork then there should be no time
limit on their enrollment.
I believe that the recent cuts in the Social Ser
vices Department, particularly the Benevolent Fund
and emergency aid are detrimental to the well be
ing of the Tribal members who would otherwise be
out on the streets. It is my understanding that the
better part of Grand Ronde members are below the
poverty level in their earnings. Cuts in these two
departments need to be reconsidered. I don't be
lieve that anyone should receive a free handout, but
there are those times that people just need a handup.
Judging a person harshly because he or she might
need these funds is wrong. Most people in this posi
tion find it extremely hard just to ask for help.
The recent distribution of Tribal gaming revenues
to Tribal members is a very hot topic and most of
us believe that if the casino is doing well, then there
should be a trickle down process whereby all Tribal
members should benefit. What I don't believe in is
that we, as Tribal members, are not responsible
enough to handle any personal taxes that may re
sult from the distributions. If the majority of Tribal
members are below poverty level, then the gaming
revenue will not effect us tax wise, as the present
Tribal Council members would have us believe.
I have also had the opportunity to witness the
recent public display of disrespect to Tribal mem
bers at the Tribal Council meetings and think that
this type of behavior needs to come to an immediate
halt! Everyone has a right to his or her opinion and
has the right to be heard and if I am elected to Tribal
Council, I promise to listen to anyone who wishes to
communicate with me.
; 1 - 'U
; i V I-
Eugene LaBonte
My name is Eugene
LaBonte, I was born
and raised in Grand
Ronde. My parents
were the late Alexander
Gus LaBonte and Edna
K. LaBonte.
I previously served
on the Tribal Council
from 1994-1997, dur
ing that time I was
privileged to be in
volved with the begin
ning of our casino
Spirit Mountain. With money generated from the
casino we were able to finance the following pro
grams. Health Insurance: This program is set up so
that all Tribal members living outside the service
area can have health insurance no matter where
you live.
Retirement for Elders: With this fund in place
Elders have been able to enjoy retirement a reality
few of us dreamed possible. I was instrumental in
the decision to refund the additional money to the
Elders that Social Security took out for Medicare
supplemental insurance. If re-elected, I will push
to add additional funds to this program and hope to
increase the amount that we currently receive. This
fund will benefit all as we reach 55 years of age.
Education: The increased funds added to this
program have made it possible for all Tribal mem
bers to further their education if desired. Stressing
the importance of education for our youth is impor
tant to prepare them to be the leaders of our future
growth.
Dividend Fund: I was involved in the first dis
tribution of money to our General Council of $1,000.
I believe in giving back to the Tribe by being in
volved in the community and Tribal committees. I
am currently the chairman of the Timber Commit
tee and have served for 10 years. I will continue to
support the importance of preserving our heritage
and culture to pass on to our future Tribal mem
bers. In closing, I ask for your support and would ap
preciate your vote in September. Gene LaBonte for
Tribal Council.
Sincerely,
Eugene LaBonte
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Mark Merrier
Dear fellow
Tribal members:
My name is Mark
Mercier, a candidate
for Tribal Council. In
1984, 1 was one of nine
people who were sworn
in as the Tribe's first
Tribal Council,
shortly after the Tribe
regained federal recog
nition since termina
tion in 1953. At that
time, the only piece of
real estate the Tribe owned was our local cemetery,
the Council and staff using a small building for our
office. At that time, it was impossible to imagine
what the Tribe would have by the year 2000. The
Tribe has come a very long way by securing our
timberland, land for housing, and the building of
Spirit Mountain Casino and lodge. The Tribe has
some economic development ventures throughout
Oregon as well.
However, I would like to see the Tribe become
more aggressive in pursuing further economic de
velopment ventures for our long-term future. Es
tablishing economic development takes time and
plenty of careful planning and analysis to assure
that any venture the Tribe pursues will become an
asset instead of a liability. My concern is that Con
gress is constantly looking at ways to tighten fed
eral funding to Tribes who have successful gaming
within their communities or reservations. Over de
pendence on federal funding could leave the Tribe
"holding the bag" if Congress does reduce funding
to gaming Tribes. Another form of economic devel
opment I would like to see is for the Tribe to explore
the possibility of providing some sound technical
assistance to the membership who wishes to estab
lish or enhance their private enterprises. .
The Tribe should analyze all its endowment funds
to ensure that the funding will be adequate for fu
ture education, housing and health needs. When
these funds were originally established, our mem
bership was approximately 2,500. Now, it's 4,000
or more. There are a large number of Tribal youth
who will need a good education which will enable
them to become self sufficient when they join the
workforce in the 21st century. As for housing, I
would like to see the Tribe look at ways to assist the
membership to secure adequate funding for purchase
or remodeling of homes, regardless of where they
live. This is possible, now that the Tribe has its
own financial resources.
Yes it's true, the Tribe has come a long way in
the past 16 years. Lets not stop now. Let's work
to secure an adequate long-term future for the
Tribe. B
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