ROSEBUD removes ring thunder council rep
March 28, 2017
By Vi Waln
ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council voted unanimously to remove one of their own from office after a hearing last week.
Patti Douville was removed from her position and disqualified to run for any future office. In December 2016, she was suspended for refusing and failure to submit to a Tribal Council mandated drug test. An official document addressing the charge Douville faced, read in part:
By violating said Drug Testing Policy, you have violated Section 7, subsections (C ), (G), (H), and (I) of Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST) Ordinance 86-04, which provide that Tribal Council members shall:
C. Abide by a Tribal Code of Ethics adopted by the Tribal Council;
G. Carry out faithfully and impartially the duties of their office to the best of their ability;
H. Cooperate, promote and protect the best interest of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe;
I. Carry out duties in accordance with the Tribal Constitution and By-laws.
Ms. Douville was elected in 2015 to serve a 3-year term as the Ring Thunder tribal council representative.
RST Ordinance 86-04 also gives tribal council the authority to remove elected officials. Section 12 outlines penalties for violations. Infractions include forfeiture of office, removal from office or recall from office, disqualification of again seeking office, forfeit per diem and public censure.
After the hearing, the Tribal Council deliberated in executive session and did find Ms. Douville guilty of violating Ordinance 86-04, Section 7, which speaks to the duties of tribal council members. She was removed by a majority vote of 16 for, 0 against and 0 not voting. Council Reps Brian Dillon (Parmelee), Willie Bear Shield (Milk’s Camp) and Arnetta Montoya (Butte Creek) were excused. Judge Greaves served as the Hearing Officer.
According to a motion excerpt, the penalty assessed against Ms. Douville included, removal from office immediately, disqualification from seeking office in the future and the forfeit of per diem from the date of suspension. She did submit a resignation to the Tribal Council during their March 22, 2017 session. The resignation was not on the agenda or addressed because it would’ve had to come before the Tribal Council during their next regular session.
A Special Election will be scheduled to fill the vacancy created by her removal. A date for the Special Election is expected to be set this month. RST Ordinance 86-10, the Election Code, states that since there is more than one (1) year left in the term, a Special Election must be “held on a date set by the Council acting within [thirty] 30 days of a vacancy and the candidates for such office who receives the highest number of votes shall be elected.”
By Vi Waln
ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council voted unanimously to remove one of their own from office after a hearing last week.
Patti Douville was removed from her position and disqualified to run for any future office. In December 2016, she was suspended for refusing and failure to submit to a Tribal Council mandated drug test. An official document addressing the charge Douville faced, read in part:
By violating said Drug Testing Policy, you have violated Section 7, subsections (C ), (G), (H), and (I) of Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST) Ordinance 86-04, which provide that Tribal Council members shall:
C. Abide by a Tribal Code of Ethics adopted by the Tribal Council;
G. Carry out faithfully and impartially the duties of their office to the best of their ability;
H. Cooperate, promote and protect the best interest of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe;
I. Carry out duties in accordance with the Tribal Constitution and By-laws.
Ms. Douville was elected in 2015 to serve a 3-year term as the Ring Thunder tribal council representative.
RST Ordinance 86-04 also gives tribal council the authority to remove elected officials. Section 12 outlines penalties for violations. Infractions include forfeiture of office, removal from office or recall from office, disqualification of again seeking office, forfeit per diem and public censure.
After the hearing, the Tribal Council deliberated in executive session and did find Ms. Douville guilty of violating Ordinance 86-04, Section 7, which speaks to the duties of tribal council members. She was removed by a majority vote of 16 for, 0 against and 0 not voting. Council Reps Brian Dillon (Parmelee), Willie Bear Shield (Milk’s Camp) and Arnetta Montoya (Butte Creek) were excused. Judge Greaves served as the Hearing Officer.
According to a motion excerpt, the penalty assessed against Ms. Douville included, removal from office immediately, disqualification from seeking office in the future and the forfeit of per diem from the date of suspension. She did submit a resignation to the Tribal Council during their March 22, 2017 session. The resignation was not on the agenda or addressed because it would’ve had to come before the Tribal Council during their next regular session.
A Special Election will be scheduled to fill the vacancy created by her removal. A date for the Special Election is expected to be set this month. RST Ordinance 86-10, the Election Code, states that since there is more than one (1) year left in the term, a Special Election must be “held on a date set by the Council acting within [thirty] 30 days of a vacancy and the candidates for such office who receives the highest number of votes shall be elected.”
