Today is election day, in Tama. The election held October 21st put three new members into vacant seats on the tribal council, and recalled four others. Now those four will be replaced in voting today. Though some members of the previous council have protested, the Bureau of Indian Affairs says it met with them and they agreed in advance to all the ground rules for this election cycle. The BIA says those rules, which are spelled out in the tribal constitution, are being followed. Once four more members are chosen for the council they could be seated as soon as tomorrow. BIA recognition of the new council is critical to getting permission from the Federal Indian Gaming Commission to reopen the Meskwaki Bingo Casino near Tama. That would put 1300 people laid off last spring back to work and restart the flow of 100-million dollars a year through the community of Tama.
