Tribal Council suspends Kahgegab pending a June 2 removal action

Scott Csernyik

1/25/2005 12:00:00 AM

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council suspended District 1 Representative Maynard Kahgegab Jr. and will vote on his removal from office on June 2.

The removal action on May 11 was in accordance with Article IV, Section 14(a) of the Tribal Constitution and Section 10 of Tribal Ordinance No. 19 for misconduct, dishonesty and neglect of duty while in office.

The removal action, which passed by a 6-1-0 vote, stated there were five instances where the 34-year-old Kahgegab violated his duties under misconduct and dishonesty in office.

They include allegedly issuing directives to deactivate a card-swipe system in Tribal Operations; reconnect feature stories to the Tribe's Web site regarding his activities during the prior Tribal Council administration; sending an unauthorized letter to the Tribe's former lobbying firm therefore delaying and obstructing the Tribe's cooperation with a U.S. Senate investigation; as well as requesting, receiving and taking possession of confidential documents. Neglect of duty allegations stem from continued unexcused absences from Tribal Council meetings.

"This suspension is needed to safeguard and protect the welfare of the Tribe and will remain in effect until a hearing is completed in accordance with the Tribal Constitution," stated Saginaw Chippewa Chief Audrey Falcon.

The motion was made by District 2 (Saganing) Representative LeEtta Hansen and was supported by District 3 (At-Large) Representative Michele Stanley. Also voting for the measure were District 1 Representatives Bernie Sprague, Charmaine Benz, Michael Floyd, and Brent Jackson. Sprague serves as the Tribe's sub-chief and Benz as treasurer. Chief Falcon only votes in the case of a tie. Kahgegab was recused from the proceeding and subsequent vote. District 1 Representative Delores Jackson cast the lone dissenting vote. District 1 Representatives Milton Pelcher, Diana Quigno-Grundahl and Executive Tribal Council Secretary Ruth Moses were absent from the meeting.

Kahgegab has been on Tribal Council since August of 1999. He served as Tribal chief under the prior Tribal Council administration and adamantly defended the work former lobbyists Greenberg Traurig and Capitol Campaign Strategies performed.

"They [Tribal Council] feel that they were undermined, yet they have absolutely no idea of what work we've done and the accomplishments made because they refused to listen to their presentation," Kahgegab stated in a May 11 telephone interview. "The racino issue didn't get passed under my administration. If you hire cheap lobbyists, you get cheap results.

"I stand behind Jack [Abramoff of Greenberg Traurig] and Mike [Scanlon of Capitol Campaign Strategies] 110 percent and will continue to do so. It's sad to see certain Tribal Council members choosing irresponsibility over responsibility. Tribal Council has basically violated my rights under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights that allow me free speech."

According to the notice of removal action issued on May 11, Kahgegab allegedly:

-Directed a Tribal Council employee to draft a memorandum from himself to Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police ordering that the card-swipe system be deactivated in the Tribal Center. "You took this action despite your knowledge that the chief instituted this additional security measure as a protection against a potential confrontation between various factions of people protesting and/or supporting the recall petitions being delivered that day by the Tribal Clerk."

-The directive to "reconnect feature stories to the Tribe's Web site relating to your activities during the prior administration...was made without the approval of the Tribal Council or the Tribal chief and was in direct conflict with the directive issued to remove these materials by the Tribal chief."

-"Your letter [to the lobbying firm of Greenberg Traurig dated March 25] was not shared with or approved by the Tribal Council or the Tribal chief and was an attempt to undermine the Tribal chief's authority as executive officer of the Tribe to cooperate in a federal investigation of this firm."

-A letter dated Feb. 26 to U.S. Sen. John McCain was a misrepresentation and distortion of the facts. "Your activities in this regard were counterproductive to the Tribal chief's correspondence to Sen. MCain pledging cooperation with his investigation" and an attempt to influence McCain's decision to investigate these firms.

-A directive to return materials addressed to Kahgegab personally and received in the Tribal Council chambers was ignored. "You did not have Tribal Council authority to request or receive documents from this firm which are the property of the Tribe and your actions undermine the Tribe's position..."

-"You were informed of scheduled meetings with the Tribal Council, but refused to attend a majority of these meetings and instead remained in your office without attending meetings conducted throughout the day. These continued absences prevent the Tribal membership from being fully represented on the Tribal Council and impede you duties to act in the best interests of the Tribe and to be responsive to the needs of Tribal members."

"Tribal Council's action today had nothing to do with the policy differences over the racino issue or the Tribe's prior lobbying firms," stated Falcon. "The action was taken as a direct result of Maynard Kahgegab Jr.'s continued misconduct, neglect and unauthorized interference with Tribal Council policy and ongoing federal investigations."