District 1 special election planned for Tribal Council seat

Observer Staff

1/8/2004 12:00:00 AM

A District 1 special election has been scheduled for Feb. 10 to fill a vacancy on Tribal Council after Gerald Slater resigned.

Nominating petitions will be available on Jan. 5 and are due by Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Tribal Clerk's Office. A list of candidates will be posted by 5 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Tribal Clerk's Office. Caucus Committee members include Chairperson Joseph Sowmick, Teller Angela Trofatter, Clerk Eugene Walraven, as well as members Grace Pego and Fred Cantu. Alternates to the committee include Ron Douglas and Sonja Sheetz.

The motions to authorize the special election, Caucus Committee appointments and special election calendar were approved on Dec. 29. A runoff election, if necessary, has been slated for Feb. 17. A swearing-in ceremony for the individual will take place Feb. 25.

Slater, 49, served on two previous councils, from 1994-95 and 2002-2003. He finished fourth overall in the general election.

His resignation letter-dated Dec. 5-came only three days after being sworn into office. Slater listed four reasons for his resignation which revolved around personnel matters.

Slater stated he wanted to "help the community come together" in a meet the candidates forum published in the Nov. 1 edition of the Tribal Observer. He also stated he felt he is an honest and helpful person.

He believed his 13 years of gaming and four years of Tribal Council experience could help make a difference and better the Tribe.