Guest guest Posted December 8, 2001 Report Share Posted December 8, 2001 ===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== FROM WASHINGTON CITIZENS' COASTAL ALLIANCE ------------------------------- TRIBAL LEADER STARTS WRITE-IN DRIVE FOR SEAT -------------------------------- By Emeline Corkelet Peninsula Daily News December 7, 2001 NEAH BAY- Makah Tribal Council Chairman Greig Arnold is running as a write-in " sticker " candidate for this month's council election after failing to win a ballot nomination. Arnold, who finishes his three-year council term in January, said Thursday he will challenge new-comer Joy Cooke and former chairman Ben Johnson, Jr. for the Position 1 seat in the Dec. 17 tribal election. Chad Bowechop and incumbent Debbie Wachendorf secured nominations for the Position 2 seat. The remaining three council seats are not up for election until 2002 and 2003. The chairman's failure to win a nomination surprised some candidates. Johnson and Cooke both had 42 votes and Arnold had 40 votes in the nomination election last month. More than 600 Makah were eligible to vote in the election. " It caught me off balance a little bit, " Bowechop said of the results. But " historically sitckers have done quite well in our tribal elections, " he said. Arnold, 50, said he chose to run as a sticker after several people voices their support. " I had enough people give me a call and say, 'sorry I wasn't there and you should do this,' " he said. The main issues Arnold brings to the table are the same ones he has advocated since being elected to his most recent council term in 1998- protecting treaty rights, maintaining the Makah constitution and laws, and increasing economic development in Neah Bay, he said. Johnson, the former tribal chairman who lost to Nathan Tyler in last year's council election, is seeking the council seat again to focus on new issues. " I see a lot of different issues that need to be addressed that aren't happening right now, " such as improving health care and providing more services for youth and senior citizens, he said. Johnson, 62, said he thinks his more than 30 years of working with the tribe will count in this year's council election after a " younger generation " unexpectedly won two seats last year. Tyler and Michael Lawrence beat Johnson and incumbent Keith Johnson in 2000. Cooke could not be reached for comment Thursday. Position 2 candidate Bowechop, also a new-comer to the council, said he is ready to take on a leadership role for the Makah. " I've had aspirations for a number of years, but it's taken me a while " to reach the right maturity level, he said. Bowechop, 46, served two terms as the tribe's delegate to the national committee of the Environmental Protection Agency and was the tribe's environmental protection manager. He also had been instrumental in securing federal funding for a rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay. Bowechop's fundamental reason for seeking a council seat is to build " a strong and effective interaction with the tribal membership, " he said. " The membership quite literally provides the fuel for the council to run on, " he said. " We're a relatively small tribe and I truly believe our tribal membership is our No. 1 natural resource here. " Wachendorf, Bowechop's opposition, could not be reached for comment Thursday. The candidates said whaling is not a prominent issue in this election. " I think people are not stuck on that issue, " Arnold said. " It's certainly important as a treaty right, and it's important that people are able to participate in that activity, but it's not the only activity that we need to concern ourselves with here in the Makah. " ***** ALSO..... -------------- Our sources and flies-on-the-wall tell us that media darling and whaling commissioner Keith Johnson is also mulling a write in " sticker " campaign in the 2001 Makah tribal election. We'll keep you posted... ***** FROM PROJECT SEAWOLF ------------------------------ SeaWolf needs your support, but this year, we want to give you something in return! This winter, we're inviting whale enthusiasts to consider spreading the holiday cheer using our special, limited edition, 'orca whale' greeting cards. Anyone helping us with a small donation* to our 2002 campaign fund will be sent a 12-card set of our beautiful, professionally produced whale cards, featuring stunning photos of southern resident J-clan orca whales. Every winter most of us obtain and send holiday greeting cards -- so we're simply asking that you consider using some of the unique cards we've created, and you'll be helping coastal wildlife protection efforts at the same time. Please go to our link at http://home.earthlink.net/~projseawolf/holidaycards.htm to see samples of the cards and captions -- if you send us a request by December 15, we'll add 3 additional blank cards for you to write your own messages! Please remember, we are a tax-exempt, federally registered all-volunteer group -- and 100% of your deductible contribution will be used to directly fund our conservation campaigns. Thanks for your consideration, and happy holidays! Michael Kundu, Director Project SeaWolf Coastal Protection P.O. Box 929 Marysville, WA 98270 projseawolf * Ideally, a minimum of $18 per 12 cards/envelopes will help us cover our bases! ***** QUOTE O' THE HOLIDAY SEASON ----------------------- " I met with the Makah leaders about a year ago and told them they were absolutely nuts to carry this out. This Makah thing makes us all look stupid. It makes the whole state look stupid. " Ralph Munro, Washington Secretary of State, May 23, 1999 ***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.