Politics

Paskenta Band holds election aimed at resolving council dispute

Monday, September 15, 2014

Image from Facebook

Members of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians in California went to the polls on Saturday to resolve a leadership dispute.

Tribal members voted overwhelmingly in favor of Slate A, consisting of Vice Chair Latisha Miller, Secretary Andrew Alejandre, Treasurer Ambrosia Rico, and Member at Large Natasha Magana. They received 138 votes over 61 for Slate B, according to the official results.

Slate B consisted of Vice Chair David Swearinger, Secretary Geraldine Freeman, Treasurer Leslie Lohse, and Member at Large Allen Swearinger. The four had been sidelined since a disputed council meeting in April but agreed to an election to settle the matter.

"I'm so pleased that the Nomlaki People had such strong voter turnout and exercised true democracy by electing its tribal leadership," Chairman Andrew Freeman said in a press release. "This is a new era of tribal leadership that promises financial integrity in its governance and financial transparency to all tribal members to ensure all can share in the benefits of the various tribal enterprises."

Freeman wasn't up for election and was supported by both slates, according to the press release. The tribe posted a video of his "victory dance" on Facebook after the election.

Post by Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

Get the Story:
Largest election in tribe's history, treasurer says (The Red Bluff Daily News 9/14)
Embattled Northern California tribe elects four members to tribal council (The Sacramento Bee 9/14)
Tribal faction currently in control of Rolling Hills Casino wins tribal council election, by count of 138-61 (Action News Now 9/13)