Tribe Needs Tools to Effectively Deal With Unethical Leaders

It goes without saying that the country is headed for hard economic times. It's also been evident that the tribe's leadership has decided that the best course of action to prepare for these hard times has been to pretend it isn't happening. This latest endeavor during these times demonstrates the most selfish of acts and a shameful lack of ethical standards.
As it is, the tribe is already going to be between a rock and hard place over the retirement benefits it offers to tribal employees now, in addition to the benefits to elected officials, neither of which it can afford. Sooner or later the tribe is going to have to make tough decisions.
Now is the time for the tribe's leadership to truly demonstrate much needed leadership qualities, the type of selfless qualities demonstrated during Franklin Roosevelt's days.
That's why it utterly incredulous that Principal Chief Michell Hicks would introduce a proposal that would allow him and his wife, along with the vice chief and his wife to get 75 percent of their already outrageous salaries upon leaving office. Keep in mind, assuming this is the chief's last term in office (if the elections are fair and we even have elections in 2011), before being anywhere near the age of 59 1/2, he, or his wife who's a good deal younger that he is, can draw a good portion of his retirement. Council members wanted the same deal.
I've got to give kudos to Wolfetown Rep. Susan Toineeta. I've had my disagreements with her, but she at least wanted to research the issue before diving headfirst into a cesspool.
Not only is this proposal selfish, it's a conflict of interest and unethical. It brings up, once again, the need for ethics laws, which no one in tribal leadership at this point seems in a hurry to pass. There are governors who are now convicted felons who had higher ethical standards then this administration and council. It's not the first time Chief Hicks has used his authority to benefit himself and his family personally. Those of us who were tribal employees at the time remember the executive order requiring the tribe to use a hardware store owned by his wife. He sat on a committee that approved a water tower lease on land owned by his father.
This is disgraceful, and Tribal Council has been unwilling to hold him accountable or to any kind of standards. We need Tribal Council members who know the role of Council. Sometimes it means having to hold the chief or other elected or appointed officials accountable when they behave illegally or unethically. It also means adopting legislation that provides the tools to keep elected and appointed officials in line. It means we have to elect council members who won't be another cast member in the executive's twisted puppet show.
I won't hold my breath waiting for this council to grow backbones, but council does need to follow the example set by the Illinois legislature and properly sanction elected officials who abuse the public trust.