Letters to the Editor
Published 3:09 pm Sunday, March 1, 2026
Taylor outlines plan for tribal convention
As we move away from winter toward the spring equinox and Session 2 of our 14-session Constitutional Convention, we are proud to announce that the Tchinook People, a society of four classes, will have the Royal Class of Komkomly’s tribe, the Chinook Tribe proper of the Tchinook Nation represented by John Herrold of Seal Slough.
Jeffery Freeman, president of the Nicquecluhwexuck Tribe of the Tchinook Nation, will represent the oldest of the 19 tribes that spoke the Chinook language.
Robert Taylor of Stuart Slough will represent the Willopah Tribe of the Tchinook Nation.
Joseph Tarabochia III will represent the Wahkiakum Tribe of the Tchinook Nation.
They welcome all the representatives and stand-in delegates for the 14 tribes who still hold our original ultimate fee in title. At Rosburg we will carve our future through the design and construction of the developing constitution. We are building a Ship of State destined to sail on to Geneva, Switzerland and recognition on the world stage as a free and independent Indigenous Nation of North America.
To be a non-recognized tribe of Mr. Trump’s U.S. of A. is a Badge of Honor.
ROBIN TAYLOR
Ilwaco
Legislators subverting will of the people
Legislators are working to keep Sheriff Daniel Garcia from running for reelection.
SB 5974 requires a candidate for sheriff to have at least five years of law enforcement experience and gives no consideration for prior military service and experience. Daniel Garcia will have four years’ Washington law enforcement experience in November.
Some legislators fear independent sheriffs that do not follow their political dictates. A sheriff is an independent, constitutional office, that is sworn to follow the law. Not political edicts.
Daniel Garcia was elected sheriff by 61% of the vote in a write-in campaign. He was elected by the will of the people. SB 5974 will also end write-in voting for the office of sheriff.
SB 5974 is an affront to the will of the people and restricts their rights. Sheriff Garcia was elected because he listened to the people and explained to them who he was and why his experience would make a good sheriff.
He is a retired master chief with 22 years of service in the Navy working on a counter terrorism taskforce and providing technical and logistical support for Navy Seal teams. For the Legislature to ignore Sheriff Garcia’s military record and consider it as “not qualifying” is an insult to all veterans.
Sheriff Garcia has cleaned up a dysfunctional Sheriff’s Department, improved intercounty drug task force coordination and is locking up the drug dealers.
Please write to your legislators encouraging them to reject this regressive bill that restricts the will of the people.
DAVID and JEAN McCLAIN
Ocean Park
