Cromwell: 'We've got our tribe back'
STEPHANIE VOSK and GEORGE BRENNAN
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MASHPEE — The victorious candidates emerged from the tribal council building one by one, tears in their eyes as screams erupted around them and car horns blared.
"We are getting our tribe back," Cedric Cromwell, the new chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag, told the supporters encircling him. "We've got our tribe back."
With 356 votes, Cromwell defeated tribal elder Putnam Peters and Mashpee Selectman George "Chuckie" Green for the job of leading the tribe for the next four years, a job that will include continuing the tribe's casino quest.
There were 599 votes cast in yesterday's election, believed to be a record turnout for the tribe.
Throughout the day, cars poured in to the mud-soaked parking lot, filtering through campaigning candidates and their supporters. The voting line snaked past the council building and trailers during the three-hour polling period.
Cromwell and three other candidates who ran on the platform of change swept the election.
Aaron Tobey, a current council member, will now serve as vice chairman. Marie Lopez-Stone ousted Desire Hendricks Moreno for secretary, and Mark Harding beat out incumbent treasurer Nellie Ramos for that seat. Selena Jonas secured the open council spot.
"I'm still shaking," said Harding, who has previously served as treasurer and vice chairman, as he walked out to greet well-wishers. "Look at the full moon coming out. The creator's given us a blessed day."
Yesterday's election was the first chance for the tribe's 1,500 members to choose a new chairman since Glenn Marshall was elected in 2005. Marshall was forced to resign in 2007 after lies about his military record and a 1981 rape conviction were exposed.
Vice chairman Shawn Hendricks stepped up to fill the spot.
While Hendricks, who did not seek re-election, was not believed to be at council headquarters yesterday, Marshall was among the first to cast his vote. The former chairman, who was accompanied by his daughter, was seen waving to supporters and getting hugs from tribe members.
On Wednesday, Marshall is expected to plead guilty in U.S. District Court to charges of political corruption and embezzlement, including that he took $4 million from the tribe's casino investor and used the money to make illegal campaign contributions and pay his own bills.
The revelations rocked the tribe and left many calling for new leadership, as was evidenced yesterday.
"I think we need this," Vernon Lopez, the tribe's spiritual chief, said after the results were announced. "We need to start with a new administration to get us back on track. It's been a long time coming."
The day was not without controversy — earlier yesterday morning, a tribal judge heard a last-minute plea from the outgoing council that four members shunned in 2006 not be allowed to vote. That bid was rejected.
Initially, Stephanie Tobey-Roderick and Michelle Fernandes were turned away from voting, despite the judge's ruling that a vote taken at an emergency meeting to lift the shunning was valid. But after Aaron Tobey conferred with the attorneys again, the two women were allowed to cast ballots.
"We stayed strong, we stood our position and we didn't waver," said Fernandes, who wore a T-shirt that denounced tribal corruption. "We didn't do what's expected of us, but we did what we did for the people."
Amelia and Steven Bingham, the other two who were reinstated, did not attempt to vote yesterday.
There were a couple of tribe members turned away from voting for not being on the list.
Crystal Asiwe, who drove to Mashpee from Somerville to participate in the election, was told she couldn't vote, despite having her roll number and tribal ID.
"I feel like I can't be a part of history," she said.
Cromwell's stepdaughter, Brailyn Frye, a one-time powwow princess, did not even attempt to vote this year after being turned away at the last election.
"I'm not going to bother. I'm not going to get worked up," said Frye.
She was disappointed, however, that Marshall could vote and she couldn't.
In a moment that reflects the dramatic shift in the tribe, Cromwell, who initially voted for the shunning as a council member, but later led the call for the meeting where it was lifted, embraced Fernandes.
"Change is coming," tribe member Michelle Russell pronounced as the first vote counts were announced, echoing statements that would follow from many of her fellow members. "This is beautiful."
Chairman Cedric Cromwell - 356 Putnam Peters - 209 George "Chuckie" Green - 32 ------------------------------- Vice Chairman Aaron Tobey - 257 Richard Oakley - 209 Gordon Harris - 129 ------------------------------- Secretary Marie Lopez-Stone - 238 Marita Scott - 180 Desire Hendricks Moreno - 171 ------------------------------ Treasurer Mark Harding - 322 Nellie Ramos - 218 Charles Foster - 46 ------------------------------ Councilor Selena Jonas - 345 Robert Dias - 243