MASHANTUCKET SEAT TWO

Two Mashantucket Tribal Councilors took the oath of office on Monday January 5, 2008. The two Tribal Councilors are Richard E. Sebastian and James T. Jackson. Joyce M. Walker was sworn in as the Chairwoman of the Elders Council.

The Oath of Office was administered by Tribal Chairman, Michael J. Thomas. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.

Sebastian is starting his third term and Jackson is a first time Tribal Councilor. Jackson defeated long time Tribal Councilor Kenneth Reels. Reels had been a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council for 18 years.

Richard E. Sebastian was chosen to replace Reels as the Vice Chairman of the Tribal Council..

Sebastian said, "Membership used to be silent. Now they're more engaged, not just by their physical presence at meetings but by voicing their concerns about where the tribe is going." Sabastian noted that many tribal members who he had not seen in a long time were present. He stated that the membership is more interested in tribal matters than ever before.

Maybe some of the participation is the result of 1/3 of the membership signing a petition a year ago that sought a referendum (vote) on budget cuts. The judge in Tribal Court rejected the petition. MGM Grand at Foxwoods and Foxwoods Resort Casino have trimmed hundreds of jobs. Tribal government workers were also trimmed. Many of these workers were possibly friends and relatives of Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Members. In my opinion, the Mashantucket Peqout membership wants more to say how their Tribal Council is running the government financially (spending the funds and more on their business).

Jackson, the top vote getter, said that the council must strengthen the tribe by promoting greater participation by the tribal membership. Jackson believes that the Mashantucket Pequot Constitution fix some elements in the document. One thing he felt needed to be addressed was term limits. Jackson said, that the tribe of about 850 members has a wider range of voices that need to be heard.

Think about this, if we (the Mohegan Tribe) had known about the deal at Pocono Downs, would the membership have been in favor of it? Who gives the state fifty five percent(55%) off the top? i think it ended up being sixty two percent (62%). How are you going to pay your bills, the interest, the investment, and make a profit? Does anyone know? I do not think it is very profitable, if at all. If that is true, then why isn't the Tribal Council telling us, how bad it really is? Do we need a more open government? Maybe it is time, that the Tribal Membership reels in the government and makes it more accountable?

Maybe, we (Mohegans) should look at this situation. Maybe, the Mahantucket Pequots are feeling the same helplessness that many of us (Mohegans) feel? Maybe we should be participating more? Maybe, we should be voicing our opinions. Maybe Tribal Members should have more involvement (voice) in our financial dealings? Maybe the Tribal Council should listen to it members? When the cuts (like the Mashantucket Pequots) come, hopefully they won't, but if they do, will membership then say we should have spoke up? What do you think?

Editorial Footnote: We wish Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilors Sabastian and Jackson well in their positions. We also wish Ms. Walker well in her position. Good luck.