Eight vying for Tribal Council seats

Eight Tribal members were nominated to run for three open Tribal Council seats and all accepted during a General Council meeting held at the Tribal Community Center on Sunday, June 28.

Because of Labor Day weekend, Election Day this year will be Saturday, Sept. 12. Eligible voters must be registered to vote and can register up to and including Election Day. Each eligible voter is entitled to vote for up to three candidates.

Of the eight nominees, the top three vote-getters will fill three vacancies created when the terms of Cheryle A. Kennedy, Jon A. George and Toby McClary expire. Kennedy and George are seeking re-election this year while McClary will be wrapping up two consecutive three-year terms on Tribal Council.

Following are the nominators followed by the nominees:

•        Tribal Elder Margaret Provost nominated Kennedy.
•        Tribal Elder Val Grout nominated Tribal Elder and former Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr.
•        Former Tribal Council member Kathleen Tom nominated Ann Lewis.
•        Lewis nominated Tom.
•        Rhonda Leno nominated Tammy Garrison.
•        Jerry George nominated Tribal Council member Jon A. George.
•        Tribal Council member Tonya Gleason-Shepek nominated Tribal Elder and former Tribal Council member June Sherer.
•        And Tribal Council member Chris Mercier nominated Brenda Tuomi.

Ballots will be mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 29. Tribal members may create a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day.

Starting Monday, July 27, through Thursday, Sept. 3, the Election Office in the Community Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half-hour lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The office can be reached at 503-879-2271.

Candidate statements are due to the Publications office by 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, and will be featured in the next edition of Tilixam Wawa, scheduled to be mailed out the following week.

Candidates are limited to 600-word statements and candidates are encouraged to submit their statements via e-mail to news@grandronde.org or on a compact disc. Hand-written statements are discouraged to avoid transcription errors and late statements will not be accepted for any reason.

Candidate statements run “as is,” meaning the Tribe’s Publications staff will not edit the submissions in any way other than to ensure they do not exceed 600 words in length.

Candidates also should contact Tribal photographer Michelle Alaimo at 503-879-1961 or michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org to schedule a time to have their portrait taken for Tilixam Wawa, or candidates can submit their own photo. Deadline for photos also is 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.

A Candidates Forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, in the Tribal Community Center. Questions for Tribal Council candidates may be e-mailed to candidatequestion@grandronde.org. Please include your name and roll number.

Ballots will be counted at the Community Center on Saturday, Sept. 12, and election results will be posted that evening on the Community Center’s front doors.