Local tribe elects new council in December; newly-elected officials still unable to take office

Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe members say they’re frustrated after their recent election is being called illegitimate by current Council Members who are refusing to step out of their seats.

“If you to go on being disrespected and treated like that, how long are you going to let it happen?” asks Quechan Elder Preston Arrow-Weed.

“They honestly think that what they’re doing is right,” states newly-elected Council Member Marsha Hill.

“The election process hasn’t been completed,” says Quechan Tribe President Mike Jackson, Sr. “Certification by this council only, then the swearing in. That hasn’t been done.”

Except tribe members say a Quechan Elder did swear in the new council members Friday, and they say according to the Quechan Constitution, swearing in new Council Members does not require the current Council Members’ approval.

“The Council knew that,” shares Quechan Tribe Administrator and Elder Vernon Smith. “If there was a contest after the election, it goes to the election board. Not the Council.”

Monday, January 23, the newly-elected Council Members attempted to go to work and take office as Council Members, but were still unable to take their seats. Quechan President Mike Jackson, Sr. expressed to Quechan Tribe members that they would potentially turn to the local Gila River Tribe to settle the dispute.

Now, Quechan Tribe members and even newly-elected Council Members are left with dozens of questions as they say it has been impossible to get the current Council Members to speak with them.

“My question is why haven’t they come in with their final decision?” asks Smith. “The election is final. Or has that been done? It doesn’t seem like it.”

“Why do you keep meeting silently, secretly?” Quechan Tribe member Lamuel Porter asks President Mike Jackson, Sr. “Everything in the open. Everything.”

“They’re not acknowledging us,” expresses newly-elected Hill. “We’re not being acknowledged as an elected official. We’re not being acknowledged as a Council Person.”

Now, the newly-elected Council Members are left waiting and hoping for the opportunity to bring their plan into fruition.

“Thinking about our plan…” goes on Hill. “I think our first plan would be… get in those seats if possible.”

Four of five Council Members were voted out of office. According to the Quechan Constitution, the new Council Members’ terms are supposed to begin on the first Monday in January following the election, which was January 2.

According to tribe members, the current Council and Election Board set a formal meeting for Monday afternoon, but that meeting has been put on hold until Wednesday, January 24.

The president of the Quechan Tribe did request that News 11 leave the building and he says he does not have a comment at this time.