Current directors Marlin Fryberg, Jr. and Marie Zackuse hope to retain their seats on the seven-member board. Fryberg currently serves as secretary of the board and Zackuse is vice-chair.

The incumbents are being challenged by Mark Hatch, Dawn Simpson, Jared Parks, Ronni Kona and Tonia Sheldon.

Parks and Kona are among members of an organization known as the Grassroots Committee, which has been critical of the current tribal government. At last spring's General Council meeting the committee pushed through several initiatives, including the Future Generations Land Protection Act, which would tax land sales to non-natives, and a policy to allow disabled members to collect a disability stipend even if they work. Neither of those initiatives have yet been implemented by the Board of Directors.

Just over 900 tribal members cast votes in the 2008 election that returned incumbents Melvin Sheldon, Jr., Chuck James and Glen Gobin to their respective Board positions.

The Board of Directors sets economic policies, works on behalf of treaty rights, oversees health, medical and educational programs, and governs business activities at Quil Ceda Village and the Tulalip Resort Casino.

blog comments powered by Disqus