McK. Press - On HCAOG Controversy

By Daniel Mintz
Press Staff Writer McKinleyville Press

The divisive issue of allowing tribal membership to a local transportation funding agency is hovering over the imminent removal of the county's representative to it.

In its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Board of Supervisors took up the usually low-key task of assigning supervisors to various committees and agencies as county representatives. And representation on the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG), which decides how state transportation money will be spent, has driven a wedge between Supervisor Roger Rodoni and the rest of the board.

State legislation allows the Hoopa Valley Native American tribe to join HCAOG if the association's membership of city and county officials approves it. But the proposal drew a deadlocked vote when it was considered last year. Rodoni voted against the tribe's membership - a stance that other supervisors disagree with.

Several weeks ago, Supervisor John Woolley, then acting as the board's chairman, agendized a discussion on the matter and Rodoni's response included an infamous reference to Woolley as a "mid-level bureaucratic political whore." Last week's meeting didn't include any zingers, but when new Board Chair Bonnie Neely proposed to replace Rodoni on HCAOG, the debate continued.

Neely pointed out that HCAOG's charter defines the board chair as the county's representative. Rodoni, who has served on HCAOG for many years, objected. He said his spot on the association is necessitated by the volume of roads included in his Second District. He said Neely's district mostly includes Eureka, an incorporated city which has comparatively minimal county road miles.

To those who have strong views on the tribal membership issue, a lot is at stake with the board's appointment because it has the potential break HCAOG's voting deadlock. And during the meeting's public comment session and in a later interview with Rodoni, Neely's recent $25,000 re-election campaign donation from the Blue Lake Rancheria tribe was cited as an influence.

'The tall weed'

Rodoni is convinced he'd continue to be on HCAOG if not for the tribal issue. "In the 10 years I've been here, these committee appointments have never been a big deal," he said. "Now we've got a problem and it's not rocket science - the tall weed sticking up here is that tribal seat."

He'd once said that the matter will "forever change the atmosphere" among supervisors. "You damn well better believe it has," he said after last week's meeting. "Neely made no approach to me on this, not a word - bingo, she just blurted it out," Rodoni continued, referring to Neely's decision to be the new HCAOG representative.

A year ago, supervisors voted to take a stance favoring Hoopa's membership - a vote taken while Rodoni was on jury duty. He resents how that was done, and believes tribes are sovereign for-profit entities apart from governments.

Rodoni was asked about how working relationships on the board have been impacted. "When you get a knife in the back clear to the hilt, you're going to get awfully gun-shy," he replied.

And he thinks Neely's campaign contribution from the Blue Lake tribe is relevant because once he's replaced, his negative vote on tribal membership would be reversed. "Money talks," Rodoni said. "You can buy a politician these days, and that's troubling."

Neely, however, emphasized that the Blue Lake Rancheria isn't seeking a seat on HCAOG now. And she said the agency's membership issues "should be looked at by the entire Board of Supervisors." If another tribe or a community services district seeks membership, "I will bring it back and honor the wishes of the board," she continued.

She added that her interest in HCAOG is related to transportation. issues she's been involved with, such as the Buckhorn Summit and Confusion Hill bypass projects, and the U.S. Highway 101 safety corridor. "So I think this is a non-issue," she said. Neely downplayed the significance of who represents the Board of Supervisors on the agency, adding that "the entity is the member, not the person."

Arla Ramsey, vice-chair of the Blue Lake Rancheria, said the tribe has sought HCAOG membership in the past but was rejected. The Rancheria's transit system and its expensive improvements to the road leading to its casino define it as a group involved in transportation improvement, she continued. "The Blue Lake Rancheria has met needs that have been outstanding for 20 years," said Ramsey. "It would be really nice to have some representation... from our point of view, every tribe should have a say."

The campaign donation is one of many of the tribe's items of public spending, she said. Asked about the perceptions of political influence, Ramsey said Neely got the tribe's support because of her character. "She is an honest person - she doesn't look at a party line and she does what's right."

Supervisors will finalize their committee and agency appointments at this week's meeting.