Both reservations of the Passamaquoddy Tribe will have significant changes in leadership, following tribal elections earlier this month.
A former Passamaquoddy state representative, tribal police chief and tribal councillor will be the new tribal chief at Pleasant Point, following the September 2 general election. Fred Moore III narrowly defeated the incumbent chief, Clayton Cleaves, by a vote of 204 to 171. Pleasant Point also will have a new vice chief, as Vera Francis defeated incumbent Kenneth Poynter by a vote of 297 to 80. Moore and Francis will take office on October 1 for four-year terms.
In the September 3 election at Indian Township, William "Billy" Nicholas was elected as the new chief, defeating Wade Lola by 22 votes, 201 to 179. In the primary election he had won the 11-way race by a significant margin. Nicholas previously served as chief from 2006 to 2010, before losing to Joseph Socobasin, who did not seek reelection this year. Nicholas' brother, Leslie Nicholas, was elected vice chief, defeating the incumbent vice chief, Clayton Sockabasin, by a vote of 200 to 175. Another one of his brothers, Alex Nicholas, who is the police chief at Indian Township, was elected to the tribal council, receiving 120 votes. Also elected to the council were Aaron Dana with 220 votes and George Sabattus with 163 votes.
A new tribal state representative also was elected. Winner Matt Dana II received 263 votes at Pleasant Point and 274 at Indian Township, for a total of 537, handily defeating Regina Petit and Dean Francis. Dana will be replacing Madonna Soctomah as the tribal representative.
Pleasant Point also will have two new tribal councillors; however, one of the new councillors will be determined in a special election tentatively set for Thursday, September 18. Philip Farrell Jr. received 116 votes and Pamela Francis 115 in the general election. A recount on September 8 determined that they were tied, so the run-off election will be held with the two candidates. In general election, Darren Paul was elected to the council with 172 votes and incumbent Newell Lewey was reelected with 164 votes. Also running were Molly Newell, who received 107 votes; write-in candidate Madonna Soctomah, with 86 votes; Viola Francis and Lori Keezer, each with 63 votes; Adam Newell with 42 votes; Alonzo Francis with 29 and write-in candidate Walter Lewey with 26. Councillors Francis Cleaves and Ed Bassett did not seek reelection.
For the two three-year terms on the Pleasant Point school board, incumbents Cyril Francis and Mary Theresa Sapiel, with 216 and 178 votes respectively, were reelected. Also running were Belinda Miliano, who received 165 votes, and Anna Keezer, who received 97. Timothy Lola and Becky Soctomah Bailey were elected to the school board at Indian Township.
Previous to the general election at Pleasant Point, a primary election was held on August 25 to elect chief and vice chief candidates to run against the incumbents. Fred Moore won the six-way primary election with 90 votes, with Ralph Dana receiving 80, Mary Creighton 69, Madonna Soctomah 68, Christine Downing 52 and Lawrence Robichaud Jr. 9. For vice chief, Vera Francis won the three-way primary race, receiving 216 votes, with Thomas Lewey receiving 71 and Rena Newell 66.
Priorities outlined
Fred Moore says the updating of internal policies will be among his initial priorities as the new chief at Pleasant Point. Noting that the tribe is still operating under ordinances enacted in the late 1970s when the tribe quickly had to create a government infrastructure following federal recognition, Moore says that he will aim to have a referendum vote on the adoption of a constitution for both reservations of the tribe within one year.
He also believes that voting rights are an issue and that the interim election ordinance under which the tribe operates needs to be changed. He says all enrolled tribal members should be allowed to vote for chief and vice chief, even if they live outside of the Pleasant Point service area.
He also would like to see a negotiated agreement with the state over the tribe's fishing rights, which he says the tribe never surrendered under the 1980 Indian Claims Settlement Act. He believes the federal government will need to be involved for the tribe to reach an agreement with the state. Moore is not sure whether the issue might have to be resolved through a court case, since he believes that the view of the state government toward the tribe's fishing rights is that "anything short of total capitulation is confrontation." Moore, though, believes that the tribe's effort in the fisheries "is not a threat to anyone."
Moore disputes assertions that the tribe's unemployment rate is 60%; he believes it is relatively low and that those who cite a higher figure are not including those tribal members who fish. He notes that the tribe issues over 300 permits a year for different fisheries. "Our economy and our culture are heavily dependent on our ability to access marine resources," he says. "We're resource rich but capacity poor." Training programs to encourage tribal members to fish are needed, he believes. He also will be focused on implementing an eel restoration plan that will include a commercial eel farm that also will be used for wild stocking of baby eels.
The chief elect says he is not interested in pursuing any more gaming initiatives, noting that the climate in the state "has been anti Native gaming for 20 years."
Other priorities will be to refocus the Indian Day program, on its 50th anniversary, back to its original intent and to reach out to other communities in Washington County on ways the tribe can work with them. "We need to work with our neighbors," he says, noting that the tribe is a significant presence in the region.
Concerning the relationship between the two reservations, Moore says, "I have every reason to believe that both communities will work together to advance their interests of the Passamaquoddy people."
Noting that he will not be accepting the $80,000 a year salary as chief, Moore says, "I didn't run for this position for a paycheck. I ran to generate paychecks." He adds, "I am extremely grateful to the elders in the community who have provided me with valuable information. I'm now returning it to the community, changing the way we treat our people, and I have to start at the top." |