Several candidates for the Massachusetts-based Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chairman and tribal council last week said they shouldn’t put all economic development eggs in one basket since its plans for a 0 million casino hit a roadblock: a federal judge’s ruling that the Bureau of Indian Affairs erred when it put land in Taunton into trust early last year.
They say the tribe should look at other economic opportunities on Cape Cod. The tribal election will be held February 12, and besides the council, will decide who will be secretary, treasurer and at-large councilor. The office of tribal chairman is not up for election this year.
Paul Peters, a candidate for secretary, is a published author, documentary producer and occasional reporter for the Cape Cod Times. She says that while she is committed to the casino she believes the tribe should look locally for economic development, such as a retail outlet for tribal crafts, food and clothing.
Shwom is a commercial Realtor who is running for tribal treasurer. She pledges to seek diverse economic activity, and uses as an example a tribe that runs a fiber optics company.
