ER Op-Ed - Tribe's contribution to DA's campaign was made by the Tribal Council, not Bowman

Tribe's contribution to DA's campaign was made by the Tribal Council, not Bowman
by Illene Callahan, 9/30/2006
This letter is in regard to a very misleading, biased article written by Heather Muller.

A contribution was made to Mr. Gallegos’ campaign; however, it was made by the tribe and not by Leonard Bowman. We have five Tribal Council members; they are the representatives of the tribe. Leonard Bowman merely presented the check to campaign headquarters.

Many contributions have been made to various programs in Fortuna and Loleta, as mandated by National Indian Gaming. Why is there no mention of these? The Loleta Fire Department accepted a contribution. Does this mean they cannot put out any other fires, only ours?

This whole article does not speak will for the mentality of this reporter.

As for Derek Bowman’s transgressions and brushes with the law, they are neither Mr. or Mrs. Bowman’s transgressions.

In case none of you noticed, all young people of today think they know everything and we parents are old fogies who try to give them unwanted advice that they totally disregard.

They stand in front of you and lie and tell you they will abide by your rules, and then they go out the door and do just exactly as they please or as their companions want them to do.

The only reason some of them have clean records is because they haven’t yet been caught.

The contribution was made long before Derek was arrested and the election of the district attorney had long been decided. Our tribal members did not stuff the ballot boxes to ensure a win for Mr. Gallegos so he could protect any one of us.

However, we all tend to pull together to try to help our tribal members in all ways, again and again if necessary. It is our heritage, taught to us by our ancestors.

I am definitely tired of reading about Ellie Bowman’s one-person protest about Worth Dikeman. There were three other tribal members there every day, of which I was one. None of us were protesting about Jeff Bowman’s conviction; rather, we were protesting the words that came out of Mr. Dikeman’s mouth.

I could not believe that a person in his position would be so racially biased. I guess I should have remembered that this is Humboldt County.

My own personal opinion is that the investigators did not do a thorough investigation in Jeff’s case or he wouldn’t have been convicted for that crime.

In response to Try Gary’s report based on Cheree Bowie’s telephone conversation, did he call her or did she call him? Mr. Gary, as a deputy sheriff, receives numerous calls from citizens in this area. It is strange that none of these other telephone conversations have been placed in The Eureka Reporter by Heather Muller.

It is also strange that Mr. Gary would believe the insinuations made by Ms. Bowie.

I believe there is a section in your U.S. Constitution that there is still free speech in this country. Mr. Acosta, as a citizen, can contribute to any cause that he deems fit.

He is also free to write letters regarding any person or cause. Nothing in his letter requested that Derek Bowman be set free. It only asked for consideration of a probationary period and it did not mention any contribution that was made by the tribe.

My estimation of Ms. Muller as a reporter or investigator is very negative at this point. If she is a Dikeman supporter, she should come out and say so, not fill the newspaper with innuendos, insinuations and half-truths. That type of reporting belongs in the National Enquirer or some other scandal sheet.

It is also a shame that she had to resort to using three other women to help her. Perhaps they could have written some articles to help people, instead of trying to demean them.

Perhaps Ms. Muller’s attacks on Mr. Gallegos are purely personal. Most women who go on a vendetta against a male public person are either jealous or envious of their wives, girlfriends, etc. Everyone is aware of the old adage, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

Maybe I should investigate her family, relatives and friends for mud to sling at her under the guise of journalism.

I invite Ms. Muller to interview me on any subject concerning this article. She is to bring a picture ID, and my words, when printed, had better be mine.

(Editor’s note: Illene Callahan is the aunt of Tribal Chairman Leonard Bowman.)
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.

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