THROWS HIS HATCHET AND THE ELECTION COMMITTEE

ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2008, THE ELECTION COMMITTEE HELD A MEETING OF ALLEGED ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS BROUGHT BY PLAINTIFF TOM EPPS "THROWS HIS HATCHET."

THE FIRST PART OF HIS CASE WHICH WAS ABOUT BEING FORCED TO VOTE FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE, WAS NOT HEARD. THE ELECTION COMMITTEE STATED IT WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL MATTER AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ACT ON IT. THE COMMITTEE SAID THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A LETTER ABOUT THEIR DECISION.

THE SECOND MATTER WAS HEARD. THE SECOND PART INVOLVED THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING BEING CLOSED AT 12:00 P,M, (NOON) ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2008. IT SAID IN THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE BALLOT EITHER HAD TO BE RECEIVED BY MAIL BY 4:30 P.M. ON THAT FRIDAY OR BE HAND DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING BY 4:30 P.M.

TOM EPPS SPOKE ELEGANTLY AND WITH PASSION ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HE SAID WHAT IF A PERSON CAME FROM CAPE COD, ETC.? HE SAID PEOPLES' BALLOTS WERE DENIED. A MEMBER OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, ASKED HOW MANY PEOPLE DID HE KNOW OF THAT DID NOT GET TO PUT IN THEIR BALLOTS. HE DID NOT KNOW OF ANY.

I BELIEVE AFTER READING THE ELECTION ORDINANCE, THAT EACH MEMBER WHO WERE DENIED ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX ON FRIDAY, WOULD EACH HAVE HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT. EVEN THOUGH TOM HAD BEEN DENIED ACCESS, FOR THE ELECTION RESULTS TO CHANGE, THERE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FIVE MORE VOTERS FILING THE SAME KIND OF COMPLAINT TO HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING. MY READING OF THE ORDINANCE IS THAT EACH PERSON WOULD HAVE HAD TO FILE WITHIN FIVE DAYS, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN.

MY OBSERVATION, (I AM NOT A LAWYER) IS THAT ALTHOUGH WRONGED I DO NOT THINK THAT LEGALLY THE ELECTION COMMITTEE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, EXCEPT MAYBE SEND A LETTER FORWARD SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT RIGHTS, AND THAT WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY. IN MY OPINION I THINK IT IS AN ETHICS VIOLATION. MAYBE IF TOM EPPS WANTS TO, HE COULD PURSUE THE MATTER WITH THE ETHICS OFFICE.

THE SITUATION OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING BEING CLOSED OR MEMBERS BEING DENIED ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX IS A VIOLATION OF ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS CIVIL RIGHTS. IF YOU DO SOMETHING TO ONE PERSON, ARE THEY NOT DOING IT TO ALL OF US?