Two members removed from council

Scott Csernyik

4/8/2003 12:00:00 AM

Two District 1 representatives on Tribal Council were recently removed for misconduct and neglect of duty.

A decision on filling the two seats was not made as of a March 28 press deadline.

Sue Durfee was removed by a 6-2 vote during a March 18 meeting and Bernie Sprague on March 27 with a 6-3 vote.

Sprague, when contacted by telephone at his home on March 27, said his rights were violated and he was disgraced.

"They've taken my job and if they think it is over, they're wrong," he said. "Our Tribal government is not a dictatorship. No one has the authority to tell me who I can talk to and share information with when it comes to the membership."

Sub-Chief and District 1 representative Robert Pego Sr., Secretary and District 2 (Saganing) representative Connie Freiburger, along with District 1 representatives Gerald Slater, Tim Davis, Lindy Hunt and Delores Jackson voted for the motions. District 1 representatives Diana Quigno-Grundahl, Delmar Jackson Sr., plus Treasurer and District 3 (At-Large) representative Ronald Jackson voted against the Sprague motion. Ronald Jackson was absent during the vote for the Durfee motion.

"As evidence was being presented to council, Durfee chose to walk out of her hearing and refused to answer questions from the council," stated Chief Maynard Kahgegab Jr. in a March 18 press release. "The council was willing to hear her testimony regarding the charges, but she was unwilling to provide answers to the questions addressed at the hearing."

Durfee said she did walk out of the meeting in a March 27 telephone interview after "it got argumentative" during the hearing.

"I told them I was not there to argue," she said. "I didn't even know why I was there. I didn't do anything wrong. I do want to thank those who have supported me, whether it was during the election process or with this particular matter."

The allegations stemmed from alleged activity pursuant to Tribal guidelines that require "avoidance of political interference with operations of Tribal programs." The pair reportedly attended a Feb. 12 meeting of the Elders Advisory Board where copies of Ordinance No. 14 were distributed. Revisions to the ordinance-which pertains to enrollment-were approved by Tribal Council on Feb. 7.