Reel Wamps

The election committee pulled  off a trifecta which is rare in the world of elections.

We’re always talking about problems.  It’s time to highlight success.  We need to thank our election committee for a job well done.  Within 31/2 weeks Election Committee Chairman Robin Tobey, and her committee members, Mingo Teixiera, Wayne Frye and council liaison Rita Gonsalves   pulled off a multi-faceted election that was prone to major problems. Robin was short two members but they pushed through. Robin’s about business. Monitors Joanne Peters, Evelyn Fermino,Yvonne Tobey, Lauren Thornton, Gayle Andrews, Pauline Peters and Alex Pocknett did voter sign-in and issued ballots. Erin Bassett handled security well.  He was short staffed too, but he handled it.

Robin really had an 18 hour election day (let alone the week prior). The long hours 7am-7pm may not have been necessary for an anticipated vote of 700 (661 turned out).  The drive thru was slow but a good idea for Elders who should be allowed to drive thru in the future.

There were complaints about the long drive-thru line but everyone who was eligible voted. A three tiered election is hard to pull off.  Drive-thru, registration and walk-in is rarely done all at once, but Robin, her team and security pulled it off.  There was no beak at 11:30 by the way.Everyone worked, together.

THE ELECTION SIDE SHOW

Cedric showed up to vote and a bunch of tribal members nearly lost their minds.  You can understand why.  The US attorney ordered him to have no contact with the “victims.” That would be us.  But there’s no tribal law that says he can’t vote.

Together forever. Winnie and Cedric. You’re not the only one confused.

You would have thought it was the return of Metacomet the way Winnie Johnson was screeching and gyrating  across the parking lot cheering Cedric on. Her frail figure and spastic behavior made onlookers dizzy. As word spread through the crowd of voters more became irate complaining to others in line and to monitors.  It was vintage Mashpee.  And they said it loud enough for him to hear.

Prior to that solo act, Winnie was raving and cursing accusing people of stealing her signs. She was spewing nonsense on Facebook. Apparently it was behavior unbecoming to the new council that did not approve and made that clear. The Cromwell days of letting her get away with inappropriate behavior  are long gone.

Besides Winnie has enough baggage to load a freight train.  All we can do now is pray that she gets better.  That she heals.

Brian will be tested as he faces the reality of leading a Tribe handicapped by a collapsing government.

New Tribal Chairman 28 year old Brian Weeden won a 20 vote victory over favorite Nelson Andrews to take the helm of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe crippled by extraordinary debt and scandal. Weeden a traditionalist who recently won an uncontested seat on the Mashpee School Committee, is a charismatic council member whose inexperience and temperament has drawn the ire of  Tribal members and Elders in particular.

Carlton Hendricks, Jr. was brought to power as Vice Chairman by a diverse coalition

Hendricks relied on a connecting message that would address Tribal needs on all levels.

of families trouncing long time rival Winnie Johnson, a Cromwell loyalist. Hendricks ran on a message of transparency that resonated with a number of families. He warned Cromwell’s  fawning  Council members of the financial disaster that was revealed last week. Half of  $700m in loans to the Gaming Commission from gaming mogals Genting  was interest. Auditors said the remaining money disappeared. Code for money laundering. The Gaming Authority had not been audited in 5 years.  Hendricks also connected with core members about problems that continue to plague fisherman and a host of issues unique to the Tribe.

New to the tribal political arena is Cassie Jackson as secretary who is a member of the Hicks family as is Weeden.

Marie has been exploited by many and has failed to live up to any assigned task. All that is guaranteed is that she will disappoint.

The shocker was the election of Marie Stone as treasurer. Her troubling record reflects a trail of instability now that she takes the most important leadership role in the Tribe. Stone lost the Mashpee Board of Selectman seat a week earlier blasting her opponent in what observers called an erratic outburst. Stone’s conduct in several Tribal positions shows that Cromwell employed the volatile   ” Tah Tah ” at the expense of tribal staff who were harassed and bullied by emails and numerous confrontations.

There are no salaries, or professionals to help navigate the disastrous terrain left by Cedric Cromwell. Bare bones working environment that some are not prepared to engage is where we are. The election of people who cannot do anything to right the canoe is pretty sad.  But there will be another election in a month to replace the seats vacated by Brian and Carlton.

We still have a chance to put people in place on the Council who know what to do.

We still have a chance.  Next…election sideshow.  Stupid stuff and the HUB BUB about Cedric voting and being in the midst of his victims.