LAWTON, Okla. – Two special meetings by the Comanche Tribe General Council resulted in the recall of a business committee member and passage of several resolutions as the tribe prepares for the results of an ongoing forensic audit of the tribe’s finances and for its April General Council meeting.

The morning meeting in Watchetaker Hall at the tribe’s headquarters north of Lawton was convened for the recall of Sonya Nevaquaya, Comanche Business Committee member Seat No. 2, alleging abuse of authority, selfserving, favoritism and nepotism, among the charges presented by tribal member Eleanor McDaniel. Nevaquaya, who is slated to term out of office following two terms in May, was not present to rebut the charges. She was removed from office by a vote of 143 to 20.

 The meeting began with a bang when Comanche Business Committee Secretary/Treasurer Jerry Tahsequah and committee member Harry Mithlo challenged the validity of the meeting. The argument was that the polls were open between 8-10 a.m. and that a quorum hadn’t been achieved by the deadline. A quorum was established and the meeting called to order at 10:20 a.m. Tahsequah and Committeeman Clyde Narcomey clashed with a close-proximity exchange before law enforcement officers gathered. Tahsequah and Mithlo then left, leaving Narcomey, Johnathan Poahway and acting Chairperson Susan Cothren to conduct the meeting.

The Comanche constitution calls for five members of the Business Committee to be present to conduct business. While that could call into question any actions taken during Saturday’s business, it was also the reason for a special meeting in the afternoon.

McDaniel has initiated recall petitions against CBC Jerry Tahsequah and Harry Mithlo on allegations that include violations of the tribal constitution, abuse of authority, use of tribal resources for personal gain, nepotism, favoritism and misappropriation and overspending of tribal funds.

The second meeting included several resolutions that, Cothren said, were for business the Business Committee hasn’t been able to conduct. She said the committee hasn’t had a quorum of five members present since January.

In a statement provided to The Constitution, Tahsequah said that since Wallace Coffey’s retirement as chairman on Feb. 4, Vice Chair Cothren “self-appointed” herself as “interim and acting” chair for the tribe, which he claims violates the constitution. The position will be open for election at the April 16 general council meeting. He alleges that Cothren received a payroll check — approved by acting Tribal Administrator Jimmy Arterberry — in February for the chairman’s salary. Tahsequah said he will continue to not attend Business Committee meetings until Cothren stands down. He also said he will be seeking a federal investigation into allegations of improper or unauthorized use of tribal funds.

Cothren alleged that it’s Tahsequah, Mithlo and Nevaquaya who are hindering the Comanche Nation’s ability to conduct day-today business. That’s why the meeting was called, she said.

A resolution to remove Tahsequah’s signatory authority for tribe accounts passed by a vote of 184-0.

The General Council approved a litany of resolutions presented. The first was for the retention of Graydon Dean Luthey Jr. as legal counsel during the forensic audit of the tribe’s finances that has been underway for three weeks. Cothren said Luthey has been assisting the Business Committee as a volunteer. She said the tribe’s law firm, Crowe & Dunlevy, has not assisted with the audit. The position of tribe’s legal representatives will also be among items discussed in April’s meeting. The resolution passed 164 to 1. He will be paid solely for work conducted since Saturday.

A bundle of four resolutions passed with a 179-to-0 vote. Included was the removal of Coffey and former Tribal Administrator Will Owens’s signatory authority with Liberty Bank; the closing of an account that has been compromise; and the opening of a new account with Cothren and Arterberry provided signatory authority. Another Business Committee member will be named, but with the resolution to remove Tahsequah’s authority, things were in a pickle. The resolutions included one to open a bank account solely for the Comanche Nation Funeral Home so as to better know what money it brings in as an entity, Cothren said.

The next bundle of resolutions to pass, this time by a 151-to-1 count, were: amending the property and procurement procedure policy to conform with federal guidelines; and appoint Dan Bigbee Jr. and Peggy Paddyaker (alternate) as representatives to the National Indian Gaming Association — replacing Coffey and Nevaquaya. The resolutions included approval of the Comanche Nation Gaming Commission’s patron ban policy and tort claim policies.

The council approved a bundle of grant-related resolutions, 184 to 0. They included approval to apply assistance under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council Victim of Violent Crimes Act and Family Violence and Service Act, and to approve Native American language preservation maintenance and application for grants.

A vote of 176 to 0 approved replacing the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center roof as part of its lease upkeep, the addition of names to the tribe’s enrollment lists and allowing the Business Committee to sign and approve the cited resolutions. The resolution will become moot following the election of a full quorum of the Business Committee.

Before the meeting turned to discussion of the upcoming fiscal year 2016-2017 budget that will be up for discussion next month, Willie Nelson presented a resolution that passed by a 159-to-0 vote. The resolution calls for the revocation of the tobacco compact between the tribe’s tax commission and a smoke shop operated by Jake Sharp and Lane Eichner. The resolution calls for the building and all its fixtures and contents to be returned to the landowner, Marie Koweno Bower, whom Nelson contends was strong-armed into allowing the business to use her property. The tax commission and tribe’s law enforcement are to make sure the transfer takes place April 1, according to the resolution.

“What we agree on is the law,” Nelson said. “We are the supreme governing body.”

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