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.
