By Chris Thew
Chronicle staff

     Colville tribal members in the Omak District had a special opportunity to hear from candidates for the district’s two Colville Business Council positions up for election during a candidate forum May 1 at the Omak Performing Arts Center.
     Each candidates was asked three pre-arranged questions compiled from public comments and focused on various topics and tribal issues. Some questions in the three-question rounds were asked of different candidates based on questions blindly pulled from a hat.
     In the race for Omak District position No. 1, incumbent and business council chairman Mike E. Marchand will face a challenge from Carleen Anderson, Susan Edwards-Best, Bryon Miller and Dwayne Paul.
     Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 3, for the tribal primary.
     Polling places are located at the Inchelium Sub-Agency, Keller Community Center, Nespelem Community Center and Omak Senior Meal Site.
     Poll votes will be certified at 10 a.m. May 5 and absentee votes will be certified at 10 a.m. May 8.
     The top two candidates for each position will move to the general election June 14. General election votes will be certified June 16 and 19.
     Winning candidates will take the oath of office during the Colville Business Council meeting July 10.
     Anderson was asked how to increase employment for tribal members, what kind of business ventures she would like to see on the reservation, and about tribal reorganization.
     Anderson, who worked on the tribes' reorganization while she was interim director, reminded the audience that the question was luck of the draw.
     Anderson suggested the tribe should encourage members to start small businesses, and provide support. She also suggested supporting education to fill needed roles in the tribe.
     "We deserve the very best employees we can have," said Anderson.
     She said layoffs during the tribal reorganization were needed, but not necessarily well received.
     "It was not an easy choice," said Anderson. "There is not one person on the council or myself who took pleasure in that RIF."
     Anderson suggested the tribe look at renewable resources, co-generation and additional dams on the reservation.
     Edwards-Best was asked about crime rates and drugs on the reservation, how she feels about Colville Tribal Enterprise Corp., and what business ventures she would recommend for the reservation.
     Edwards-Best said the tribe needs to be proactive, but think about how it will give penalties.
     "We need to give equal attention to how we deal with crime," said Edwards-Best.
     She suggested that the tribe provide more attention to youth.
     Edwards-Best said CTEC should have a direct connection to the tribe and that non-Indians should not be in supervisory roles.
     "Hiring outside non-Indians is not acceptable," said Edwards-Best.
     Edwards-Best said she would like to see more "agricultural, small business, technology and media-based opportunities," including a television site.
     Marchand was asked what he would do for the youth, how he felt about casinos and what he can do to increase health benefits for tribal members.
     Marchand said the tribe’s main concern is its younger members.
     "Our biggest issue is the next generation," said Marchand.
     He said he is concerned about the youth and would like to see programs, such as a proposed youth cultural camp, educate kids on their culture and heritage.
     "We want to have jobs, but we want to be Indians in the future," said Marchand.
     Marchand said the tribe’s three casinos probably would make more money if they were replaced or remodeled. He said surveys show the casinos would likely make double or triple with improvements.
     "They're all run down, pitiful and need to be replaced," said Marchand, who added that the tribe is considering a location in Moses Lake.
     Marchand said the best way to work on increasing health benefits is to maintain a council at home, but have a strong presence at the federal level, which provides 90 percent of the tribe’s budget, according to Marchand.
     Miller was asked how he felt about rumors that the tribe’s mills were operating in the red, how he would be an asset to tribal government, and solutions for the tribe's budget deficit.
     Miller said there are two options: Ride out the low lumber prices in hopes of improving product when prices do increase, or close the mills. He suggests the tribe should first look to see if it or CTEC could support it.
     Miller said his experience, dedication to open, transparent government and willingness to work long hours make him the best candidate.
     Miller offered an idea for controlling the deficit: "How about we stop spending more than revenues," said Miller, who suggested the tribe needs a tighter belt and to look for outside resources.
     Paul was asked his views on tribal sovereignty, how he would deal with the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), and to discuss his work ethic.
     Paul said the tribe needs to work on securing its sovereignty.
     "I believe that's the best way to get our reservation going," said Paul.
     He said that he supports the office and that when he talked with TERO officials he was told the business council was not allowing the office to do its job.
     Paul said cross country running, in which which he participated from sixth grade through high school, taught him discipline and that he enjoys hard work and is ready for it on the council.
     Ted Bessette, Omak position No. 2 incumbent, will face six candidates vying for his position: Shirley Charley, James McCuen, Cody Miller, Cary Tonasket, Melanie Torrence and Ernie Williams.
     Bessette was asked what he has done for the tribe to date, how to combat drugs and alcohol on the reservation, and how he feels about casinos.
     Bessette noted his early work pushing development of the casinos and pointing out concerns with revenues at the mills.
     "Generally, it appears the casinos are bringing in as much as the mills are losing," said Bessette.
     He also said he is very supportive of Indian preference.
     "Keep the Indians and let the other ones go," said Bessette.
     The tribe should have early intervention, diagnosis and treatment options available to deal with problems with drugs and alcohol, he said.
     When asked about casinos, Bessette said the tribe needs to "get more mileage out of them."
     Charley was asked her opinion on tribal reorganization, why people should vote for her and her views on tribal sovereignty.
     "When you know something isn't working, fix it," said Charley.
     Charley said she believes more needs to be done to eliminate waste in the tribe, including documenting time wasted by employees.
     Charley said her experience and openness to exposing wrongdoings make her the best candidate.
     "I won't tell you what you want to hear, I'll tell you what you need to hear," said Charley, a former council member. "I believe that the only reason I was unseated was that I was a threat."
     Charley said the tribe needs to protect its sovereignty.
     "We need to make sure that at no time this is taken away from us," said Charley. "Sovereignty is not a view, it's our right."
     McCuen was asked his opinions on the ethics committee and how to improve it, what is his greatest strength, and what he wants to accomplish on the council.
     "Ethics committee? What ethics committee?" asked McCuen. "When I put my dog in the chicken coop, who's watching the dog? It sure isn't the chickens."
     McCuen said he believes people outside of the council should be the ones watching over the committee, which considers ethics violation filings against council members.
     McCuen said his greatest strength is not shying away from anything.
     "I'm not bashful," said McCuen. "I'll yell out and talk to anybody, listen to them and hear them."
     Cody Miller was asked on which committee he would like to serve and why, what he would do to preserve culture and preservation, and what he would do for the youth.
     Miller said he would like to chair the tribe's community development committee. He said he believes his power development experience would bring opportunities.
     Miller also said he would like to strengthen and support programs to preserve the tribe’s culture and traditions.
     He said he would like to push for a Boys and Girls Club, increase training and education, and provide more cultural programs.
     "Show them what they should be proud of," said Miller.
     Tonasket was asked what he believed were the qualities of a successful councilman, his long-range goals and objectives, and what he has done for the tribe.
     Tonasket said the best qualities would be not micromanaging, have an open-door policy and be willing to listen to people.
     "Ethical, responsible, accountable and they have to have an open heart," said Tonasket.
     Tonasket said his long-range goals and objectives are to help the tribe become an economic and political power.
     "To try and help the best I can," said Tonasket. "Through hard work, open mind, open heart, dedication."
     Tonasket said his work protecting the environment as an environmental specialist with the tribe was his accomplishment.
     Torrence was asked her solutions to address the deficit in the tribal budget, and her views on mining and on the ethics committee.
     Torrence said she would like to see the council take cuts and spend money wisely.
     "It's time for change," said Torrence. "I believe they have spent enough of our time and money."
     Torrence also suggested that departments that go over budget should be questioned and those that match or go under their budgets should be rewarded.
     Torrence said she would not support mining on the reservation and feels that if it were allowed that the tribe would likely mismanage the funds.
     "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is," said Torrence.
     On ethics, Torrence said improvements are needed and she would ask other tribes with successful policies for the policies that worked.
     Williams was asked his opinion on Wells Dam, his plans on improving education, and his opinion on the mills operating in the red.
     Williams believes the tribe should look at ways to reduce water costs and start a water association on the reservation, but also believes that the tribe should keep a close eye on water rights.
     "I think we're giving away a lot of our water rights," said Williams. "I think we need to dwell on working on another policy."
     The tribe gets payments from Douglas County PUD for Wells output.
     Williams said the tribe should encourage kids and set up more incentives and scholarships to help youngsters with their education.
     Williams said the mills are losing money, but wants to see the tribe give consideration to people working there.
     "The mills right now are having a hard time," said Williams. "Lumber prices have hit rock bottom."