Siletz.Net

Looks like it's going to be Sharon Edenfield and she'll be appointed at a Special Tribal Council Meeting tomorrow morning, June19. The meeting isn't shown on the official tribal website. Sharon appears to be intelligent and knowledgeable about tribal affairs. It's not likely, however, that she'll be an independent voice on the tribal council. In all probability, this appointment will increase Chairman Pigsley's power base on the Tribal Council to a lopsided 7-2 majority.

Recall that Sharon Edenfield served as interim director of Siletz Tribal Business Corp (STBC) in 2007 after Henry Cagey was fired. She served until Dave Tovey came aboard to assume the helm of the sinking STBC ship last year. She is the mother of Election Board member, Felicia Carmona, and is now holding the job of Admin Manager, one of the top paying positions of employment in the tribe. It will be interesting to see if she retains her high-paying position while holding office, as so many Tribal Council members have.

Sharon Edenfield can be reached at (541) 444-2532 x1202 or sharone@ctsi.nsn.us

According to well-connected sources, Phil Rilatos had been asked if he was interested in taking Lisa's Browns position before the expulsion proceedings began. Many will find it surprising that Dee Pigsley didn't pick Rilatos, whom she endorsed in the elections and who won the second highest number of votes this year of available alternates. It would have, at least, been a nod to the voters in a year when few gestures of respect for the voters have been forthcoming from the Tribal Chairman.

One wonders what role Chairman Pigsley sees the voters as having in choosing Tribal Council members, but this appointment presents an even deeper problem. The Tribal Council knows very well that Lisa Brown's case is still underway. Tribal attorney, LeeAnn Easton informed the Tribal Council last Friday that Brown still has time to file for an appeal. I'm not saying that Brown is likely to win an appeal, but what kind of situation would filling the vacancy she left put the tribe into if she did win her appeal? And how could any action prejudice Lisa's case more than seating someone in her place while her case is still in progress?