Rep. Toineeta Attempts to Right a Wrong

Tribal Council Wolfetown Rep. Susan Toineeta certainly has taken her lumps from the public. She often appears indecisive though abstentions, even at times when it has behooved her to make a decision one way or the other. She's also been accused of being a Michell Hicks puppet.
Where she deserves some credit is the fact that she, unlike too many of her colleagues who've mocked her, takes the time to educate herself on what is coming before Tribal Council. Cherokee County/Snowbird Rep. Abe Wachacha, even admitted in front of me on one particular issue that he had no idea what he was voting on when he cast his vote in favor of a horrible proposal from Chief Hicks to remove tribal levy funding for higher education. So in that aspect, Rep. Toineeta's approach is refreshing, even if on occasion she's wrong.
She's submitted a proposal to rescind recent retirement enhancements for the chief and vice chief introduced by Chief Hicks, and passed by a majority of Tribal Council members without question. It turns out that the plan passed by Tribal Council would allow Chief Hicks, after two terms, to actually earn more in retirement than he has as principal chief. She also has other objections listed separately in a letter.
Of course the issue of the chief making more retired than while in office is a good objection. The other is that this proposal was wrong to begin with. Tribal members are feeling the pinch of the economy (despite the tribe's propaganda machine claiming there is no depression). Individual tribal members are having to sacrifice. Shouldn't the tribe's leadership set an example by sacrificing themselves? I was running a business when the economy totally went to hell last fall. The first salary to be cut was mine. Yet here stands the majority of our elected officials boosting their own benefits. There's even talk of another salary increase.
What the chief did in this instance was shameful and embarrassing. I'm glad that at least one elected official is trying to do something about it, even though it probably stands no chance of passing.
Susan, I have my doubts that you actually read this blog, but if you do, know this, it's better to stand alone on the righteous path to go along with a mob mentality. I support this proposal, and I hope that the majority of Tribal Council will have a change of heart.