4 AUGUST 1,2010
Smoke Signals
Candidates7 Forum attracts about 40 to hear 14 office seekers
By Dean Rhode
Smak Signal tdilor
About 40 Tribal member filled the
Tribal gymnasium in Grand Ronde
on July 21 to hear from the 14 Tribal
members seeking three open Tribal
Council seats in the upcoming Sept.
11 election.
All 14 declared candidates at
tended. They include incumbents
Chris Mercier and Tribal Elder
Steve Bobb Sr., and the 12 chal
lengers Tribal Elder I'atsy
Pullin. Tribal Elder and former
Tribal Council member Jack Giffen
Jr., Tribal Elder Dakota White
cloud, Tribal Elder Alton Butler,
Lelani Folden, Shelley Hanson,
Greg Shandy, former Tribal Coun
cil member Andy Jenness, De
nise Harvey, Tribal Elder Duane
Wheeler, Tribal Elder and former
Tribal Council member Ed Larsen
and Michael Bolton.
Tribal Elder Betty Bly, who was '
nominated to run in late June,
dropped out of the race.
Moderated by Tribal member and
Tribal Executive Officer Chris Leno,
the forum allowed candidates to
answer two questions each with a
two-minute time limit per question,
and then allowed each candidate a
two-minute closing statement. Most
choose to read from their state
ments appearing in the July Tilixum '
Wawa.
I
rzs
Pftoto by MKheH Ala I mo
Tribal member Eric Bemando takes notes as Tribal Council candidates
answer questions during the Candidates' Forum In the Tribal gymnasium on
Wednesday, July 21.
Because the forum ran so smoothly
and was ahead of schedule, Leno
joked that candidates could have
"two minutes and five seconds" for
their closing statements.
The Candidates' Forum officially
started at 6:24 p.m. and wrapped up
before 8 p.m.
Questions were submitted by
audience members and placed in a
raffle drum. They were drawn ran
domly for each candidate in the first
round, and then re-submitted into
the raffle drum for a second round of
questioning with the provision that a
candidate would not have to answer
the same question twice.
The forum was conducted alpha
betically, starting with Bobb and
ending with Whitecloud.
Tribal member questions ran the
gamut of Tribal concerns, from can
didates' views on the Tribal Ethics
Ordinance to whether programs
or per capita were more important
places to spend Tribal dollars to
what a candidate would do for Tribal
youth if they were elected.
Other topics of concern raised by
Tribal member questions were the
impact of a private casino in Port
land on Tribal finances and a candi
date's opinion on past Tribal Council
spending; whether candidate forums
are a good idea; whether Tribal
members should have to pay a co-pay
for health insurance; whether Tribal
audita and investigations should be
made available to the Tribal mem
bership; whether the Tribe should
establish a Tribal Employment
Rights Office; whether there should
be stricter rules for Tribal Council
attendance and absences; ideas on
how to fix enrollment problems; and
how to protect Tribal treaty and
sovereignty rights.
Tribal member and Tribal AV
Network Technician Wendell Olson
filmed the Candidates' Forum and it
has been posted on the Tribal Web
site www.grandronde.org for
viewing.
Tribal Elder Jolanda Catabay de
livered the invocation and hungry
Tribal members dined on a boxed
dinner from the Mek Mek House in
Grand Ronde Station.
Tribal Council is guaranteed at
least one "new" member this election
cycle with incumbent June Sell
Sherer not seeking re-election.
Ballots were mailed to Tribal
members on July 28 and are due
back by Sept. 11. B
(SI
ED CDass
Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30 4 p.m.
Tribal Education Building
Contact Joanne Carr at 503-879-2282
or joanne.carrgrandronde.org
CTGR Annual fish distribution
Natural Resources Division Fish Lab
ELDER DAY
Must be an ELDER or picking up for other ELDERS ONLY.
Thursday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. 4 p.m.
All MEMBERSHIP K
Friday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. 4 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. Noon
Must show Tribal I.D.
If picking up for others, a signed note with
copy of Tribal I.D. is required
No early or late pick up.
Questions? Contact Angella McCallister at 503-879-2376.
2010 SUBSISTANCE - RELEASE FORM
I agree to take full responsibility for picking up salmon for my family. I have obtained Tribal ID and notes from each
member. Listed below are the names and roll numbers I will be picking up for today.
NAME
ROLL
SIGNATURE:
DATE:
7
V "
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Greg Norton, Bureau of Indian Affairs Siletz Agency superintendent,
second from right, had a meet and greet with Tribal Council on
Wednesday, July 1 4. Tribal Council members at the meeting included
Tribal Vice Chair Reyn Leno, left, Tribal Council member Toby McClary,
second from left, and Tribal Council Secretary Kathleen Tom, right.
Also in attendance, but not pictured, were Tribal Council members
Steve Bobb Sr., Chris Mercier, June Sell-Sherer and Wink Soderberg.
Class of 1950 sets 60th reunion
The Willamina High School Class of 1950 will hold its 60th reunion on
Saturday, Aug. 21. Other Willamina High classes and friends also are
invited to attend.
For more information, contact Glenva Clark at 928-271-9544. B
Recycle Center moved
The Recycle Center has been moved temporarily to 9675
Grand Ronde Road. (The Curl Property next to Procurement).
We will leave it open every day, as long as there isn't any per
sonal garbage or other materials (couches, mattresses, etc.)
dumped there. For more information, contact Tribal Facilities
Manager Michael J. Larsen at 503-879-2407.