New officers needed for Tribes’ positions

Klamath Falls Herald and News

Letter to the editor

March 16, 2010 

   Klamath Tribes elections are coming up. I encourage people to vote. This is important to the future of our tribes.

   If you’re unsure who to vote for, think how our present tribal council is representing us, making decisions without our approval, disrespecting us, disregarding the general council’s wishes, walking out on meetings when   there were quorums present and locking tribal members out of the administration building.

   Our chairman practiced dictatorship during his term and the rest of the tribal council allowed him to do so.

   The vice chairman, treasurer and secretary or any of the other six at-large members had the authority to stop him from behaving in such a manner and to recognize these meetings as legitimate, but they allowed it to happen and chose to walk out with him because they never got their way.

   Not recognizing tribal members to get up and speak, this tribal council is not the example we need for our future. This is the legacy this council chose for itself and will certainly not be remembered for this, as Wade Crawford is still remembered for his actions. This is all about choices.   Let’s move forward by voting in new people. I, like a lot of people, feel there are tough choices to make on who to vote for, but I will support:

   Chairman: Gary Frost.

   Vice chairman: Steve Weiser.

   Treasurer: Jennifer Parrish.

   Secretary: Melva Cook Fye.

   Four of the six at-large members: Leonard Norris Jr., Albert Lawver Sr., Diane Poitras Walker and Frank Summers.

   Even if you don’t support these candidates, consider new people and get away from dictatorship. We can only pray that they start a strong legacy our tribe can build from and are not self-serving. The tribal council needs to get away from that and put the people first. 

   Cheryl Wahl

   Klamath Falls