CK had to win. He and Paula pulled out all the stops. It wasn’t about the Tribe. It was about their paychecks.
As the returns came in tribal members moaned and whispered “Oh no!” The candidates promising to clean up the financial mismanagement and deliver tangible resources were defeated under the same circumstances that brought Cedric Cromwell to power in 2009. The same voter list problems that tainted that election were present this time. The list was mysteriously “stollen” then they got another one. Seventy-five people who voted Sunday were not on the roll which is illegal. It doesn’t matter why they weren’t on the roll……they were not legal voters. Election Committee Chair Kimmie Frye, an ardent supporter of Brian Weeden waved them on through to cast ballots. She quit earlier having the nerve to claim “election interference” against Karen over a Facebook post. Then she came back. She had to finish up. Teaming up with the Weeden slate campaign manager Paula Peters (and Trish) handing over the membership list that was used to phonebank and mail information. It was supposed to be shared with the other candidates, but it was not. That membership list was current and provided the Weeden ticket tremendous advantage. Nelson Andrews and Carlton Hendricks Jr. were significant threats to the Weeden ticket. The margin of victory in both of those races was close.
Paula in all her glory. Staying on the payroll $4m strong. To hell with the Tribe.
Meanwhile Kimmie tainted her hard working Election Committee with her extreme bias for CK. She was worse as election chair in 2015 when her brother-in-law Cedric was running. Then she was riding around with the ballots in her car for days. Just search it in Reel Wamps and see for yourself. While you’re at it look up the recall of Cedric, also in the CCT.
As the campaign intensified, Paula contacted Weeden ticket opponents to cut a deal to preserve her tribal newsletter and media relations contract. That in itself is not unusual for campaign double agents, but it reveals a lack of confidence in her slate. Paula tried to pretend Robin Stamps was not part of her crew cause she’s so awful. Robin was vital to the scheme. To show you how simple the woman is, she was broadcasting the fact that she was in the race to be a spoiler (getting just over 40 votes). And that was what she did to the detriment of the Tribe. She spends her day calling people spreading crazy rumors and wreaking havoc instead of managing the homeless shelter. A tribal member described it as being “worse than being in jail.”
That list clearly helped Paula’s favorite candidate Fenton Soliz
Fenton! You really don’t know what you’re in for. Buckle up. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
who was an unknown mortgage loan guy whom she promoted as a Wall Street Wizard. Quite a stretch. Honestly, Soliz was working in the Grocery Store Branch of Citizens Bank at Stop and Shop and he clearly regarded the Mashpee as Yahoos he could con. So, he ran for treasurer. They were partying down at Paula’s house and Dino’s of all places. But the victory dance is more like a funeral march when the feds draw a bead on his predecessor’s cooked books.
The Weeden administration has concealed the problem that threatens to cripple the most basic member services and prompt federal investigations from the hostile Trump administration. A preliminary report on the spending crisis signals a government shutdown in three to four months. The full details, which were not revealed in total, but they are known. The overview outlined a shell game of unprecedented expenditures that violated accounting standards and federal guidelines. It all points to Brian Weeden, Bobby and Winnona who was aware of every bit of the wrongdoing. The most frightening aspect of this is that all deals to move us forward go away. Andrews, Hendricks and Tobey had investors ready to pull the trigger on casino phases, resort projects and tribal partnerships. That will not happen now. Do you really think we will attract prospective investors with Brian, and Winnie who is now over operations and the TA?
Elders and members are disheartened and very angry. They heard of Brian’s plan to appoint Suzzette Peters to Winnie’s vacant seat and blew a gasket. You will recall that’s how we got Bobby in as treasurer and Winnie back on Council. Yah.
WHAT TO EXPECT
- They will rely on Mark Harding to cobble something together. But it has to materialize in 3 months. If he had a deal it would have been rolled out before the election. He was seen wandering around the building today. Every time he’s involved, it hurts badly rather than helps.
- The biggest problem is that CK is hard to sell, that’s why Andrews was our only hope for a path forward.
- Expect the Weeden administration to shut down the investigation immediately. However, sources say it is too late because the consistent wrongdoing is documented beyond the $4.3 m in fantasy money. Political patronage and loyalty verses competence were required by the chairman and his consultant Paula Peters. Her candidates are incapable of filling the jobs they were elected to do. Instead, they cut deals and keep the incompetence going.
- Weeden’s candidate for treasurer, Fenton Soliz, will replace disgraced treasurer Bobby Foster, who stepped aside and endorsed Soliz. Unemployed now Bobby wanted a spot on the Gaming Authority. And he expects to get paid. It was bad enough he was the Treasurer. Imagine investors running a check on him. Soliz, in return, called Foster “courageous” for that and endorsed Weeden. Foster is the uncle of Weeden’s partner, who is a Frye. The Frye’s disastrous reign brought chaos for 15 years because of this kind of cronyism.
- Expect lawsuits a host of push back
We are in a bad place. But the most hurtful thing is that many of the people, especially the young people who supported the Weeden regime are the ones who will be hurt most. This is not a Family Feud game show. It’s your future.
