Siletz.Net

There's no Miss Congeniality prize so, for me, it's 4th place as runner up.

I took 4th place, behind Dee Pigsley, who finished in 3rd place. Not enough to get me on the Tribal Council this year, but I am optimistic about the changes we can still make in the coming year.

Thank you, everyone who took the effort to support me. I got encouraging phone calls and emails from tribal members who, like many others, want more accountability from the tribal government and deserve more information about our businesses and tribal salaries, and government spending. They asked me to keep up the good work. It meant a lot to me to hear from them.

Often a breakthrough is achieved just as a person is about to give up. Albert Einstein talked about this when he said, "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." I hope that that those who desire more transparency and accountability will hold to that spirit and not give up.

We not only have next year, but we have this year, too. We can contribute by remaining hopeful and talking with each other throughout the year.

On to the 2010 election:

Lisa Brown, in her usual energetic form, got the vote tallies out to Siletz Tribal Members around the world on Saturday evening.

Just a couple of years ago most members would have had to wait weeks for the results of an election, but Siletz.Net has changed the paradigm of Siletz tribal communications. Lisa had the tally posted within minutes of the announcement of the results in Siletz.

It's been an interesting year in Siletz tribal politics.

Bud Lane and Dee Pigsley began their campaigns early last year. In March their Election Board sued me. In June I announced my candidacy in Brookings. In July, Pigsley used her column in the the tribal newspaper to campaign against me. Then the Election Board who sued me ran it's own candidate - Kurtis Barker, who was given the support of Pigsley-Bremner machine in it's bloc campaign letter. Chinook Winds worker Melinda Logan threw her hat into the ring this year, along with Ken Blacketer and Frank Aspria. The new Election Board proved even more oppressive than the last, prohibiting me from referring to other candidates in my statement for the voters pamphlet, and, finally, prohibiting candidates from even speaking or referring to one another at the Candidates Fair.

In spite of all that, it was a record turnout for voters and when the ballots were counted on Saturday, here's what it looked like.

Lillie Butler 58% support of all who cast a vote
Bud Lane 48%
Dee Pigsley 44%

Lillie Butler took a comfortable 10% margin above all other candidates. Her 536 votes smashed all records. However, it's likely that 3rd place finisher, Dee Pigsley, who fell behind Lillie by more than 100 votes, has been installed as Chairman by her own majority on the Tribal Council.

I haven't received word on who was chosen on Sunday to chair the Tribal Council, but if the tribal council would, for once, put the voters' best interest in front of their own best interest, they would have selected Lillie Butler as Tribal Council Chairman this year.

All the best to my own supporters and to challengers Melinda Logan and Ken Blacketer. Lillie Butler's resounding first place victory is an indication that the tide is turning. Hang tough, everyone.

Lynette Warren