Utes replace all 3 incumbents on tribal panel
Those voted out had backed adviser to business committee
Election results were certified April 12 and show that business committee chairwoman Maxine Natchees lost her bid for re-election as the representative of the Uintah band to challenger Curtis Cesspooch, 88 to 120. Like Natchees, Cesspooch is a veteran of tribal politics, having served a four-year term in late 1980s.
In the Whiteriver band, voters elected Phillip Chimburas with 119 votes. Incumbent Smiley Arrowchis received 97 votes. Uncompahgre band members elected Steven B. Cesspooch with 166 votes, while incumbent Richard Jenks Jr. won 154 votes.
The balloting went uncontested, despite a history of serious disputes following a loss at the polls for the incumbents. In the 1990s, an incumbent who lost his seat forced the general election to be held two more times before finally conceding.
Curtis Cesspooch, Steven Cesspooch (the two are not closely related) and Chimburas met with Jurrius earlier this month in a meeting initiated by the financial adviser, said Curtis Cesspooch. Jurrius brought the trio up to speed on numerous projects he is working on for the tribe, Curtis Cesspooch said.
Although the tribe has enjoyed tremendous financial growth at a time of high gas and oil prices and increased production of the natural resources on the Uintah-Ouray Reservation in eastern Utah, it has also been a very divisive time for the tribal membership.
Curtis Cesspooch said that one reason is that many tribal members feel their leaders yielded power to Jurrius, allowing him to play a significant role in tribal affairs. Many tribal members believe the financial adviser was responsible for the ouster three years ago of two elected tribal leaders who had filed a lawsuit questioning the Bureau of Indian Affairs fiduciary oversight of his dealings with the tribe's finances.
Business committee members Luke Duncan and Ron Wopsock had filed the lawsuit in 2003. Jurrius' supporters on the business committee then enacted an ordinance that prohibited anyone ousted from office from running for re-election for a period of four years.
Many tribal members, including Curtis Cesspooch, spoke out against the ordinance, alleging the rule obviously targeting the two men violated the Ute constitution. Duncan and Wopsock's case is currently pending before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Curtis Cesspooch said the new business committee members had an amicable discussion with Jurrius, and it was agreed that he would work under the direction of the Ute leaders.
"We told him the perception is that he is involved in everything and in running everything," said Curtis Cesspooch. "I think the key to the whole thing is control. He can do his job, but we need to be in control. ... He was agreeable to that. I think we could work with him."
The business committee backs Jurrius' financial plan — which has produced monthly dividend payments to tribal members — but the committee will call for an audit of all the tribe's financial dealings.
E-mail: lezleewhiting@hotmail.com
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