Tribal council taps new chair

By Paul Daquilante
The News-Register

GRAND RONDE - Cheryle Kennedy, longtime chair of the Grand Ronde Tribal Council, has been ousted in favor of McMinnville native Chris Mercier. She was edged 5-4 in voting by the nine-member body at its annual organizational meeting.

Kennedy was the leading vote-getter in winning election to another three-year council term last month. Mercier has one year remaining on his three-year term.

Angie Blackwell, who also has one year remaining on her term, retained the vice chairmanship. Mercier's ascension to the chairmanship opened the secretary's post, which he had held previously.

Jack Giffen Jr., re-elected to the council last month, won a contested race for that office.

In the first round of voting for the chairmanship, Mercier, Kennedy and Kathleen Tom all received nominations.

However, none of them received the required five votes, constituting a majority. Kennedy got four votes, Mercier three and Tom two.

Mercier and Kennedy went head to head in the second round, and Mercier emerged the winner. In addition to his own vote, he drew those of Blackwell, Tom, Wink Soderberg and Wesley "Buddy" West.

Kennedy was backed by Giffen, Reyn Leno and Valorie Sheker, all members of the council's old guard.

Mercier graduated from North Salem High School in 1993 and the University of Oregon in 1998. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism.

In a biographical profile posted on the tribal website, he explains his decision to seek a seat on the tribal council this way:

"To put it mildly, I was concerned with the overall direction of the tribe. Certain events and revelations to me had raised some visible red flags that I think hinted at greater and perhaps graver problems. I do not by any means intend that as criticism of previous council members, but that is genuinely how I felt and a lot of my suspicions were correct."

In order for the tribal council to operate effectively, it must operate openly, Mercier said. He said the tribal membership must be educated so it can provide the council with good input on decisions.

"I think some improvements have been made in those areas," Mercier said, "but we are far from fulfilling our potential. Every time that a tribal member has to stand up in a council meeting to ask a question, especially one based on rumor, that means we haven't done our job."