Tribe nominates candidates  

March 6, 2010

     A full slate of candidates is seeking election to the Klamath Tribes tribal council.

   The list includes most incumbents serving on the council and tribal members who say they should be in office following a series of still disputed recall elections in November and February.

   At those meetings, a group of tribal members unhappy with the current tribal council said they recalled the council and elected a new board. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has denied the claim.

   In the current election, tribal members will select a chairman, vice chair man, secretary, treasurer, four at-large council members and a tribal court judge. Tribal elections for the 10-member council are every three years.

   Nominations were taken at the Tribes’ Feb. 20 general council meeting in Chiloquin, where nominees could accept or decline nomination. In cases where nominees were not present, they were given seven days to submit a written explanation to the elections board, which determines if the excuse is acceptable.

   Ballots

   Ballots with the completed list of nominees will be mailed to members later this month.   Candidates may include a one-page information sheet. Completed ballots must be received on the 60th day after nominations, or April 21, when votes will be counted.

   Based on the 2009 annual report, tribal membership as of Dec. 31, 2009, was 3,683,   with an estimated 3,077 adults 18 and older.

   Candidates in tribal election     

   Candidates for chairman include incumbent Joe Kirk, former multi-term chairman Allen Foreman, and Gary Frost, who said he was elected to replace Kirk following the recall.

   Vice chairman candidates include incumbent Joe Hobbs and challengers Don Gentry, Steve Weiser and Rachel Chavez.  Incumbent secretary Torina Case is facing challenges from Melva Cook-Fye, Cecilia Craig, Eileen Joe and Lahoma Schonchin.  Incumbent treasurer Brandi Decker is opposed by Jenny Parrish.

   Five of the six incumbent at-large members are seeking re-election, including Will Hatcher, Jeff Mitchell, Janice Miller, Jeannie McNair and Perry Chocktoot Jr. The sixth, Foreman, is running for tribal chairman and cannot run for more than one office.

   At-large candidates include Joe Allen Sr., Richard D. Blunck Jr., Clay Chocktoot, Just Cole, Coleen Crume, Eleanor Delaney, Sandra Hamilton, Gail Hatcher, Shawn Jackson, Twila Joe Ahnefeld, Charles Kimbol Sr., Duke Kimbol, Ellsworth Lang Jr., Albert Lawvor Sr., Wayne Leone, Eldon Miller, Karen Miller Ray, Darcy Miller Ibarra, Margaret Morrow, Leonard Norris Jr., Brad Parrish, Diane Poitras Walker, Anna Ridenour Bennett, Frank Summers, Brandon Tupper, Albert Wilder Jr., Kimberly Wood and GeorGene Wright Nelson.

   Candidates for judge are Deborah Dubray, LeRoy Greaves and James Hill.