Smoke Signals
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, Feb. 22 4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
General Council meeting
Sunday, March 4 11 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
2 FEBRUARY 15, 2012
Dear Tribal members:
I am writing regarding the Constitutional Amendment Primary Election
resolution that was approved by six members of Tribal Council at the Jan.
25, 2012, Tribal Council meeting.
The actions of the six members of Tribal Council in approving a resolu
tion that calls for a Constitutional Amendment to add Primary Election
wording to our Constitution was disheartening to say the least as those
members of the Tribal Council only seem to be willing to address one of the
two main questions asked in the 2010 Tribal Council Election Survey.
Those two main survey questions received more affirmative votes than
the highest vote getter (541) in the Tribal Council Election that year
where 1,095 Tribal members cast votes for the various Tribal Council
candidates.
A total of 948 Tribal voters responded either "yes" (582) or "no" (366) to
Question 1, which was: "I support a primary election to reduce the num
ber of candidates that go on to the general election held in September of
every year."
A total of 928 Tribal voters responded either "yes" (701) or "no" (227) to
Question 2, which was: "I support limiting the number of three-year terms
a council member may consecutively hold office."
Based on the results of the 2010 Tribal Council Election Survey, there is
no doubt that some type of "open discussion" needed to take place regard
ing our Tribal Council Election Process.
However, I believe it was wrong for the Tribal Council to decide to move
forward with a BIA-conducted Constitutional Amendment Election to pro
pose changes to our Tribal Council Election Process that only addressed one
aspect of the process. It is especially wrong since more Tribal members who
marked the 2010 survey supported "limiting the number of three-year terms
a council member may consecutively hold office" than those who wanted
some type of a primary election "to reduce the number of candidates that
go on to the general election held in September of every year."
For those who follow the Tribal Council election results each year, it
should be easy to see that a primary election would favor incumbents even
more than a regular election already does, and that term limits would stop
incumbents from making a career out of being elected to Tribal Council.
It just so happens that the six members of the Tribal Council who ap
proved moving forward with a Constitutional Amendment Primary Elec
tion, without addressing the term limits issue, are all members of the
Tribal Council who have already served more than one term on the Tribal
Council. I encourage each of you to write to all nine members of the Tribal
Council and give your opinion about this issue.
Thank you for your time.
Leroy Good
Roll 892
Dear Smoke Signals:
I am not in favor of a primary election without having term limits in
place with it.
1. It would be adding the cost of another election to our Tribal budget.
2. Speaking for myself, when I pick which six candidates I want, I already
know which three I am going to vote for so it is unnecessary to lower the
field of candidates to six.
3. Because there is not very much time between the candidates declaring
that they want to run for Tribal Council and the time of the primary
vote, the new candidates would not have very much time to build up a
following and get their message out to the voters.
4. I think the primary would favor the incumbents.
5. I would hate to have us spend Tribal dollars on this election and then
turn around and do it all again next year to consider the term limits.
Why not just wait and do both elections for the price of one?
6. I am not in favor, as Tribal Council member Toby McClary said, of
spending Tribal money on this one issue when the membership said on
the survey that they really wanted term limits to be added to our Tribal
Constitution. So thank you, Toby, for your stance. I think you speak for
many of the members.
Rosemary Jameson
Roll 883
Elder's bingo held on Saturday afternoons
Bingo at the Elders' Activity Center will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25. A
potluck meal starts at 12:30 p.m. and bingo begins at 1 p.m. For more infor
mation, contact Elder Activity Assistant Daniel Ham at 503-879-2233.B
Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of
Tribal Chiefs' Day.
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Web site: www.grandronde.orgnews
E-mail: newsgrandronde.org
Q Twitter: CTGRgov
Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
slobhafutayloftrandroffide.org
SCARLETT HOLTZ
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
503-8 79-MS 3
KarWt.noh20-andronoe.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
teorp.vakle27andronde.org
VALERIE COX
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
valerle.cox8randronde.org
KRISTEN RAVIA
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SECRETARY
503-879-1418
btatmjwbgrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PAGE DESIGNER
503-879-2190
usDto.phl01psgrandronde.org
MICHELLE ALAIMO
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1961
mtfteie.jUkTiogrjndronde.org
DEAN RHODES
PUBUCATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1463
dun.rtiodBgrmfrwxfc.aff
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.luiTingrandrorKfc.org
CARLA MAY
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
urla.robertsgrandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
Friday, Feb. 17 March 1
Monday, March 5 March 1 5
Tuesday, March 20 April 1
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com
munity of Oregon, Is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed In the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be Included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on Individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
The Associated Press
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2012 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy D Chris Merder
Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2305
eXk 2352 chrls.merdergrandronde.org
cheryIe.kennedygrandronde.org Q jUJe jnerer
D Reyn Leno ext. 1 444
Tribal Vice Chair iune.sherergrandronde.org
- ext. 2399 D Toby McClary
reyn.Ienograndronde.org ex 4555
Jack GifTen Jr. toby.mccIarygrandronde.org
Tribal Secretary Kathleen Tom
-ext. 2300 ext. 1777
iack.giffengrandronde.org kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
Steve Bobb Sr. Valorie Sheker
ext. 2353 ext. 2355
steve.bobbgrandronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org