Tribal Council Amends Election and Referendum Ordinance
Sep 28, 2016
Three Tribal Members Appointed to Expanded Election Board
Akwesasne, NY — On Seskehkó:wa/September 16, 2016 the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Office of the Tribal Clerk conducted a swearing-in ceremony as Tribal Council appointed three tribal members to the Election Board in accordance with Tribal Council Resolution (TCR) 2016-77, which adopted two amendments to the Election and Referendum Ordinance. The amended ordinance supersedes TCR 2013-21 that adopted earlier changes on Onerahtókha/April 2, 2013.
Over the past year, the Election Board recommended to Tribal Council that certain amendments be made to the Election and Referendum Ordinance to ensure its provisions are implemented in an efficient and fair manner. As a result, Tribal Council has adopted two amendments to the tribal ordinance that will help provide for the uniform and consistent oversight of elections and referendums.
The two amendments include expanding the Tribe’s Election Board to ensure it is comprised of no less than five members who will serve staggered terms of five years each. The specific changes were made to Section IV (A) of the Election and Referendum Ordinance and are as follows:
IV. ELECTION BOARD
A. Appointment
1. The Tribal Council shall, through a Tribal Council Resolution, appoint a Tribal Election Board which shall consist of three (3) or five (5) members.
to
1. The Tribal Council shall, through a Tribal Council Resolution, appoint a Tribal Election Board which shall consist of five (5) members.
and
2. Board members shall be appointed for three (3) year terms.
to
2. The appointment term of office shall be five years and staggered. Terms shall be designated to expire in one, two, three, four and five years, respectively. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for five years, except that in the case of a prior vacancy, an appointment shall be only for the length of the unexpired term. Tribal Council can reappoint through resolution, at their discretion.
In accordance with the above amendments, Deputy Tribal Clerk Summer Bero conducted the Oath of Office to Hope Wheelock, Debra Martin and Joseph Bowen-Brewer on Seskehkó:wa/September 16th. They join current Election Board Members Bryan Garrow, originally appointed in May 2015, and Sheila Loran, originally appointed in May 2016, who were both previously appointed to serve three year terms respectively.
To ensure consistency on the Election Board and a smooth integration of the staggered terms, the board members shall serve their terms according to the following timeline:
Board Member Term Expiration Date
1. Joseph Bowen-Brewer One (1) Year September 15, 2017
2. Bryan Garrow Two (2) Years September 15, 2018
3. Sheila Loran Three (3) Years September 15, 2019
4. Debra Martin Four (4) Years September 15, 2020
5. Hope Wheelock Five (5) Years September 15, 2021
Individuals may download to view the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance, as amended by TCR 2016-77, on the Tribe’s website at www.srmt-nsn.gov underneath “Publications” and the “Election Board.”
PHOTO CAPTION: On Seskehkó:wa/September 16, 2016 the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Office of the Tribal Clerk administered the Oath of Office and expanded the Election Board to five members, which includes incoming members (from left) Joseph Bowen-Brewer, Debra Martin and Hope Wheelock.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.