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Finley is lone incumbent to survive tribal election

Scott Hunter | Jun 27, 20122
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Six new members will join the Colville Business Council in July, according to official poll and absentee ballot results released Thursday night.

In Nespelem District 1, longtime Councilmember Harvey Moses Jr. lost to William “Billy” Nicholson II 463-252. District 2’s Ricky Gabriel lost to Nancy C. Johnson 447-260.

Joseph L. Somday prevailed in his challenge to Jack W. Ferguson, winning the Keller seat 164-78.

Current CBC Chairman Michael O. Finley was the lone incumbent to retain his seat, fending off Lou Stone for the Inchelium District 2 seat 287-212. And newcomer Jim Boyd gained Doug Seymour’s Position 1 seat 306-207.

In Omak, two people who had been fired from tribal government jobs in controversial council decisions in recent years, won CBC seats decisively.

Former tribal executive director Nancy “Lynn” Palmanteer-Holder, fired for no cause in 2011, took the Position 1 seat from Aaron “Scarbo” Marchand 461-208. John Sirois, among a group of department heads let go in 2007, defeated Ben E. Marchand Jr. for Omak’s Position 2, 433-239.

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Colville Business Council member Ferdinand Louie resigns

Election recommended to fill seat

Scott Hunter

Right after an election that put new leaders into six of seven seats on the Colville Tribes’ top government body, a seventh position opened up, and a year early.

The Colville Business Council Tuesday received the written resignation of member Ferdinand Louie of Omak.

The CBC executive committee recommended June 13 that Louie step down, following his second arrest this year on domestic violence charges.

The Colville Constitution requires that CBC must now “declare the position vacant and appoint a member from the district affected to the unexpired term.”

The Elections Committee recommended that the CBC declare Louie's seat, Omak District Position 2, vacant, and hold a referendum vote to determine district voters' choice for filling the rest of the term, which expires in July, 2013.

The committee also requested that the district-wide vote be held no more than 60 days after the full CBC approves its recommendation by resolution. A schedule for certifying candidates and holding the district vote will then be developed by the Elections Committee.

 

Reader Comments(2)

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redman writes:

First i want to congradulate the newly elected 2012 council members. Yes, the global economy recession has reached our reservation boundaries and its impacts have touched us all. Mistakes have been made in the past by our leaders when making economic development decisions on behalf of the CCT. In many instances it appears that our councils either do not have the proper education or training to be sitting as our representatives across the tables where professionals are selling (or dumping) economic development schemes that have little or no chance for success. I for one an glad to have two representatives from the Omak district that have above average academic and professional skills and I sincerely hope that they will be leading the charge to reform our political body.

07/06/2012, 6:21 pm

LaurieSison writes:

Please keep abreast of the situation going on with the $193 million settlement. There are things happening that are newsworthy and many hope will unseat those council who have been keeping themselves removed from the discussion demanded by our tribal members. At an important meeting that was called two weeks ago, only 4 council stayed the entire day to listen to members concerns. There is talk of working on recall petitions for Mr. Finley and those others who have been disregarding our people. Not sure what will happen, but this is a very important time for our people. Please visit the Colville Tribe's Facebook page to see more. Those who negotiated the settlement, including Mr. Finley are not telling the truth when they are trying to scare members on public assistance by telling them if we get the entire 100% of the settlement, they will lose benefits when in reality there is federal law and regulation that says that trust monies do not affect the programs. Mr. Finley and others negotiated away rights that they had no ability to negotiate away so they could be able to use the funds from the settlement for 'tribal business' but our membership is tired of mismanagement and is starting to rally together to keep them in control. We shall see what happens, but I hope to see that you can investigate and report on this story as well. Thank you, Laurie Kanzleiter Sison Auburn WA

06/29/2012, 7:38 pm