Meskwaki tribe moves toward another recall election

There may be an election this fall to resolve the leadership dispute on the Meskwaki settlement that led to the closure of the tribe’s casino in May. One of the tribal councils that claims supremacy says a recall election should be held October 21st. Eric Woolson, a spokesman for that tribal council, calls the rival group “dissidents.” Woolson says the rival group needs to accept the date, let the election go forward, and “get out of the way and let the casino re-open.” Woolson says a federal agency suggested the recall election be held on the same date as the settlement’s “general election.” Woolson says the recall election would work like this: any members of the tribal council that might be recalled October 21st would remain on the council until a second special election would be held to choose their replacement. Woolson says the Department of Indian Affairs might send in some election observers to police the vote as he says the D-I-A has offered any help that the tribe needs. The rival tribal council has not responded to a request for an interview.