Tribal Territory Since Time Began

NOTICE OF SPECIAL RECALL ELECTION

Three Recall Tribal Council Positions

Date: July 19, 2023 Time: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Location: 77826 Covelo Road, Covelo CA 95428, Buffalo Room

The issue to be decided in the Special Recall Election: Recall by Petition, A majority vote of registered voters shall determine the success or failure of the recall petition(s), provided, that at least thirty-three (33%) of the eligible voters actually vote in the special recall election.

Absentee Ballots: 1) Any Registered Voter shall be entitled to vote by absentee ballot by submitting a Request for Absentee Ballot Form F-2 to the Election Board, Tribal Council Secretary, or Administrative Receptionist, at any time up to ten (10) working days before the Election. 2) Each Registered Voter shall request his or her own absentee ballot. 3) The Registered Voter must return his or her completed Absentee Ballot to the Round Valley Indian Tribes, postmarked with the date of Election Day or earlier.

Possible & Final List of Candidates
(1) Carlino Bettega (2) Neil Britton Sr. (3) Robert Whipple *Candidate filing deadline date is closed.

Petitioner Recall Information

*Mr. Randall Britton

Petition: Violation of Tribal Code of Ethics, Article IV Section 1E1 of Ordinance Number RV-20-10-02 Rules of Governance for the Round Valley Tribal Council and Tribal Code of Ethics. Committing a criminal or civil offense of a high and aggravated nature such as felony assault, battery, grand theft, forgery, extortion and bribery, felony possession of controlled substance, reckless endangerment, and malicious interference with the lawful governance of the Round Valley Indian Tribe.

* Mr. Joel Merrifield

Petition: Violation of the Tribal Code of Ethics, Article IV, Section 1E1 of Ordinance Number RV-2010-02 Rules of Governance for the Round Valley Tribal Council and Tribal Code of Ethics. Violation of the Constitution, the Oath of Office, or of and approved Ordinance, regulation, or policy of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.

*Ms. Tesia Wantt

Petition: Article IV, Section 1E2 of Ordinance Number RV-2010-02 Rules of Governance for the Tribal Council and Tribal Code of Ethics Insubordination and improper business practices, when insubordination is demonstrated by disobedience to constituted authority, or the showing of willful or intentional disregard for lawful and reasonable direction or instruction. Improper business practices shall include but not limited to using elected official to advance personal and financial interests not similarly shared by all members of Council, pertaining to fraud, misappropriation of and/or unlawful use of appropriated funds, and malicious conduct.

Possible & Final List of Candidates
(1) Carlino Bettega (2) Neil Britton Sr. (3) Robert Whipple *Candidate filing deadline date is closed.

Download a copy of this Notice of Special Recall Election: Download

Additional Response

Mr. Randall Britton's response, from the recall meeting held on July 12, 2023:

No written comment provided. See additional comments from the Recall meeting held on 7/12/23 via Facebook live feed.

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Ms. Tesia Wantt's response, from the recall meeting held on July 12, 2023:

No written comment provided. See additional comments from the Recall meeting held on 7/12/23 via Facebook live feed.

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Mr. Joel Merrifield's additional response, from the recall meeting held on July 12, 2023:

7/12/2023

Greetings Relatives!

I Joel Merrifield

RVIT Enrolled member and current elected Tribal council member from 2021 thru 2024.

I have no negative ill intentions of causing harm and or burden the RVIT with any selfish acts especially violating any Oath of Office neither RVIT and or the USA. I have no intentions of causing harm in my community and or at the RVIT council chambers. I’m always positively motivated in any work that I apply myself too.

Regarding the current situation of Recalling of myself for any such violations I’m not guilty.

During the January 19th , 2023 RVIT council meeting during executive session a motion was made regarding a Severance pay to then current TBA. I did not make the motion nor did I second that motion – I abstained - that vote came out as a 3-1-2

I abstained due to the fact that there was too much unclear information at the table for myself to fully support the motion. The TBA had submitted two separate letters of complaints on two active elected RVIT council members that was Michelle Downey and Lewis Whipple- those letters were submitted to the RVIT table on 1/19/23- during the reading and discussion the vice president started discussing the actions of the TBA of misuse of his RVIT tribal council credit card usage during the last week of November 2022 where himself and the TBA and council member Randall Britton traveled to the Tribal Leaders Summit in Washington DC- If that was such a concern why would it come up more than a month later when the fiscal office staff had been aware of the credit card usage, and not then notify any of the RVIT executive branch members then to address misuse.

During the time frame of January 20th thru the 31st I was only aware of the RVIT Chairman making contact with the tribes legal team whom was drafting and working on a legal document of the severance payment offer no amount was discussed as I anticipated that to come back to the table.

I didn’t see that actual document at all in person in paper form until later in February 2023. On January 31st, 2023 the RVIT vice chairman sent out a group text to call an Emergency meeting within a 4 hour time frame that same evening at 6pm- I immediately responded asking what was the emergency- he stated back to the group text “ tribal council concerns” I advised that we were hosting a three day work session with our new broadband contractor team that traveled into Covelo from all over the United States. No text reply nor any phone calls were received/made regarding the importance of an emergency meeting. I was out of the county and didn’t attend this meeting. It wasn’t until later that evening around 8:30 pm that the vice chairman sent out a large text thread stating the large wire transfer that took place the day before on 1/30/23.

The following day 2/1/2023- another emergency meeting was called again sent thru text from the Chairman Randall Britton- the executive session included one topic the severance payment made to the TBA via the Tribes bank account- and the suspend/remove Randall Britton until further investigation.

I voted No due to not having any valid proof or any bank receipt of this large transaction that had taken place earlier that week. Nothing on paper was presented nor any fiscal documents were provided to make a decision for myself at that time. Only verbal. The last two years of tribal council work and making important decisions there’s always back up documentation at the table to make a decision either yay or nay or abstain.

I believe that’s what all this recall petition and election is in regard to especially from being sued in our own RVIT Tribal Court since the first week of March 2nd of 2023 to be exact. I recall when we were served a Tribal Court Summons in person after 5 pm from RVIT staff member or legal advocate Jessica Goodrow whom stated “ don’t hate me I’m just doing my job then ducked out the buffalo room” lol.

That court summons included 4 current active tribal council members- RB, SH, TW and myself, and staff members then CFO Howard Funchess (contracted employee less than 12 months), RC- Human Resources RVIT and then past employee Linda Sacks past TBA. That lasted thru the end of June 2023, so in that time frame of March thru June 2023 I wasn’t able to make any comments on the process that eventually ended in a dismissal with out prejudice from Mona O and Deb Hutt as her legal advocate. That entire debate was regarding the same issue of illegal actions of the severance payment that myself had no participation in.

The facts that only one tribal council person acted in regards to safe guarding the RVIT councilmembers and RVIT a legal suit of sexual harassment is a real threat and can still be activated from my understanding. I feel that Randall made the decision on stop a larger situation on his own, but the remainder of the RVIT council as not fully included. I’ve known Randall all my life he’s a good person and I believe he didn’t act in any malicious way to benefit himself.

In conclusion us three active tribal council members have been removed with a false unethical swearing in that was led by the current election committee and tribal council liaison to keep us in a position to continue to be recalled and sued by local tribal members. The RVIT tribal court Judge made a ruling on 6/25/2023 that VOIDED the election results so that applies to all actions that took place since 5/25/23.

Thank you to all the local tribal members whom helped Challenge the recall election as well- you’re your Voices!

Especially the firing of RVIT staff member Otis Brotherton who has been wrongfully terminated due to supporting us during this suit process. He does not deserve to be terminated due to doing his job duties that are under his scope of work providing services of court advocacy for victims. We are victims that needed guidance and support from our local tribal resources as we are tribal members.

Everyone Deserves a Second chance- , Cheaters never Prosper, and Leaders build more leaders!

Please exercise your most valuable right as a tribal member and united states citizen- by

Voting NO on this Recall Election of 2023!!!

Thank you,
Joel Merrifield

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Download a copy of the Mr. Joel Merrifield's Additional Response from the recall meeting held on July 12, 2023: Download

Election Ordinance

Please note that this is a very large document (34.5 MB), depending on your connection speed, it may take a while to load.

* Important Note: This is the most recent approved Election Ordinance. There has been discussions of amendments, but those are being researched.

Download a copy of the Election Ordinance: Download

Download a copy of the Signed and Certified Election Results: Download