Bear River members seek chairperson's recall
Jessie Faulkner/The Times-Standard
Article Launched:11/17/2006 04:17:32 AM PST
LOLETA -- Some members of the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria are seeking the recall of Tribal Chairperson Leonard Bowman alleging embezzlement and illegal donations of tribal money to Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos' campaign for re-election.
Rancheria member Brenda Bowie said Thursday that three members of the five-member Tribal Council -- Carol Reeves, Edwin Smith and Dakota McGinnis -- had joined several others in signing a petition to recall Bowman. She also noted that the chairperson had been removed from his position as president of the board of directors, an entity established with the opening of the Rancheria's Bear River Casino. The members of the board of directors and the Tribal Council are the same people.
A General Council meeting of all Rancheria members is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Tribal Community Center in advance of the annual Thanksgiving dinner set for 3 p.m. Petitions will be circulated during the General Council meeting.
Bowie said Tribal Council members declined to explain why Bowman was removed as president of the board of directors other than for misconduct.
According to Bowie, the Rancheria's attorney has been investigating disappearance of funds from a fund set up to sponsor a stock car that races at Redwood Acres. The results of the attorney's investigation, she said, hasn't been shared with Rancheria members.
”They've been stalling and stalling,” Bowie said.
However, Bowie also noted that the tribal chairperson had allegedly violated the Rancheria's own Code of Personal and Business Conduct conflict of interest/political contributions section that says tribal funds or property cannot be used for contributions to political candidates. A $10,000 contribution to the district attorney's campaign violated that policy, Bowie noted.
She added that Bowman had requested that a donation be made to the Gallegos campaign.
Bowie said she and her niece, Barbara Orr, are also preparing to send letters to the Rancheria members seeking their signatures for the recall petition.
”I encouraged the tribal council to work with Leonard,” Bowie said, “but they didn't.”
Efforts to reach Bowman were unsuccessful Thursday.
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