Louis Taylor was unanimously chosen as chairman of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band Friday morning, July 7, at an Inauguration Ceremony where three newly elected council members were sworn in.
Taylor, Tweed Shuman and Don Carley are the new council members joining Jason Schlender, Rose Gokee, Jason Weaver and Joel Valentin. The outgoing council members were former Chair, Mic Isham, Rusty Barber and Norma Ross.
Chosen in a vote of 4-3 for Vice Chairman was Jason Schlender over Tweed Shuman and as Secretary Treasurer in a vote of 4-3 was Jason Weaver over Tweed Shuman.
Louis Taylor upon taking his position promised to the best he can as the new chairman. Taylor said transparency is very important to him. He pledged to seek an audit for the tribe and to look into the new bond deal the previous council made.
“I know it’s important that our new council knows where we sit financially right from the start,” Taylor said. He also said he wants to meet with Congressman Duffy “very soon so we can get this audit issue worked out.”
Taylor also said the membership wants to know about LCO Financial Services and he intends to let them know.
He said other areas he plans to address include the new Election Ordinance, the meth epidemic and getting the New Post community center re-opened as well as fixing up the playgrounds in the communities.
The outgoing chairman, Mic Isham, said he pledges his support behind the new council 100% and acknowledged the work done by Rusty Barber and Norma Ross.
“I made four promises when I was chosen as chairman,” Isham said. Those four promises including bringing the pipe back into tribal government, fighting for sovereignty and treaty rights, paying off debt and making the tribe more financially sound as well as including the elders in the tribal government process.
Isham said that elders participated in every council meeting, the tribe was “undefeated” in court cases involving treaty issues while he was chairman, and he brought the pipe back into meetings. He said he hopes the council continues this tradition.
Isham also acknowledged refinancing the new bond and said it has a lower interest rate and unlike the previous bond which pledged all tribal revenues, the new bond only pledges casino revenue.
Newly elected council member Don Carley said he hopes the new council can work on all issues.
“Personnel policies need to be revamped,” Carley said. “Our employees are important.”
Tweed Shuman said he was humbled by the support he received in the election and that he was honored to stand before the membership as their voice for the next four years.
“I will inform you and I will represent you,” Shuman told the crowd.
Newly chosen Vice Chairman, Jason Schlender, said he hopes the new council can work as a whole and that he pledged his support behind the new chairman.
Rose Gokee said the tribe has established a new vision moving forward. She asked the membership to pray for the new council to have strength, courage and wisdom to make the right decisions.
Joel Valentin said he looks forward to working with the new council to continue making progress.
[From L-R: Rose Gokee, Joel Valentin, Jason Weaver, Louis Taylor, Jason Schlender, Don Carley and Tweed Shuman]
Last Update: Jul 07, 2017 11:32 am CDT
