Darnell Sam fills vacant Nespelem District position

Darnell Sam has been appointed to the Nespelem District Position #2 on the Colville Business Council, following the expulsion of Andrea George, who had filled that position.

The CBC named Sam to the council seat following a 94-53 vote by tribal members held at a March 5 Nespelem District meeting, according to a March 6 press release from the Colville Tribes.

The council had expelled George Feb. 21 on ethics charges including improper influence, gross misconduct and malfeasance.

George’s supporters insisted she was being expelled for calling into question procedures and actions the council takes, not for actual ethics violations.

“The district decided to appoint him and not to have a special election,” the press release states.

Sam had lost to George in the 2018 election by a tally of 414-405 votes.

Sam will finish the remainder of George’s term, which ends in July 2020.

George filed a motion in Colville Tribal Court on March 1 to prevent Sam from taking the position, according to a March 12 press release from the tribes.

The court denied the motion March 5, saying that “the CBC retains exclusive jurisdiction over who may maintain their position as a member of the Constitutional legislative body of the Tribes.”

“I am appreciative that matters are ruled on in a timely manner by the Tribal Court,” Colville Business Council Chairman Rodney Cawston is quoted as saying in the March 12 press release. “It is important that the legislative and judicial branches of our government continue to function efficiently and effectively.”

The CBC serves as the legislative and executive branch of the Colville Tribes.