Frequently Asked Questions: 

What is the Deal with the new election notice? 

On 8/18/07 The Pit River Tribe held their annual election.  Ten of the previous Council or Alternates were voted out by the membership as follows:

Ajumawi – Lillian Lego & Sharon Elmore were replaced by Philip Ragland & Rile Webster, Alternate

Aporige – Anna Barnes

Astarawi - Patricia Preston & Gene Preston, Alternate

Atsugewi – Sheila Montgomery and Laura Olivas were replaced by Jolee George & Sheila Montgomery, Alternate

Atwamsini – Wally Preston & Mary Preston were replaced by Herb Quinn & Monte Carroll, Alternate

Hammawi – Marina Martinez & Rose Wilson were replaced by Jesse Cardenas & Spencer Wilson, Alternate

Hewisedawi – Raymond Alvarez & Olivia Forrest-Davis were replaced by Raymond Alvarez & Lala Cawker, Alternate

Illmawi – Melvin Wolfin &  Lauri Hayward were replaced by Melvin Wolfin & Randy Wolfin, Alternate

Madesi – Matt Elmore & Vernon “Pro” Ward were replaced by Brandy McDaniels & Vernon Ward, Alternate

The new Tribal Council was seated according to the Pit River Tribal Constitution and Election Ordinance on 8/24/07.  Since then our Election Chairperson Certified our Council election results to the BIA per our Election Ordinance. 

Then the ex-council people, after their terms expired, started having Council meetings in which they voted to seat themselves back on Council and have been paying themselves honorarium and mileage, and authorizing payment to an attorney from our smoke shop account ($10,000 on 9/7/07) to help them hold an unwarranted new election. 

They are being helped by Tribal Administrator Bob Boyce, who the membership actually voted to fire in meetings the membership themselves called, personally paid for, and held.  Boyce was even served notice by S. Ashmun, Sergeant, #162 on 8/2/07 of Resolution No. 07-2807-0, "Termination of Employment as Tribal Administrator".  Boyce has racked up a list of complaints against him due to a series on improper behavior involving staff and tribal members.  Boyce is also currently a signatory on our Tribal Bank accounts and directly supervises employees that cut the checks.  This is not a proper internal fiscal control. 

Boyce and these ex-council members are locking out new council and other tribal members of the office during normal business hours and locking in staff, visitors, and others of their choice.  Tribal members have actual video of this.  This is a violation of the California building code.  Other members have traveled up to six hours or more for scheduled appointments with Tribal Office staff and were locked out. 

In the meantime ex-council have appointed their family members to be on the election committee, recommend a new election, and have sent out notice of a new election despite the fact that there is an ethics complaint filed against these same election committee members for their previous improper conduct. 

Also despite a 9-27-07 Executive Direction correspondence from Dr. Virgil Akins of the Bureau of Indian Affairs that states "However, after a review of the Pit River Tribe's governing documents, along with correspondence submitted by other interested parties, i.e. the Chairperson, Tribal Members, Mr. Boyce, Mr. Seward, and newly elected Council Members, a dispute within the election committee does not appear to be sufficient cause to invalidate the August 18, 2007, election or its results." 

The fact of the matter is, holding a new election is not legal and is a violation of the rights of the voting membership.  Also it will not invalidate the results of the August 2007 election in any way.  Therefore it is clearly a waste of Tribal resources, as well as creating a hardship on the membership whose interests these Council people are elected to serve.