Editors Note: The following is a press release issued by the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas.

Kickapoo Tribal Chair Lester Randall announced earlier this week the Tribal Council amended its suit brought against former Tribal Chairman Clifford “Steve” Cadue and Tribal Council Treasurer Bobbi Darnell for violating tribal procedures in adoption of a budget and related financial transgressions in violation of tribal law.

Specifically, Cadue was charged with violating tribal procedures for preparing, enacting and administering an annual tribal budget ordinance. The suit also alleges former Treasurer for Tribal Council Bobbi Darnell violated her fiduciary duty to the Tribe to notify Tribal Council members of the revenue shortfall in a timely manner and failed to exercise “reasonable and ordinary care to insure appropriations were not exceeded.”

The suit was originally filed in the Tribal District Court of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas on August  12.

Cadue has been chairman of the Kickapoo Tribe many times during the past 30 years. In January, the Tribal Council removed Cadue from its governing body for a “breach of fiduciary duty” and a subsequent investigation of the Tribe’s finances and budget approval process led to the current action being filed in Tribal Court. Darnell, who served a number of terms as Tribal Council Treasurer was not reelected to the Tribal Council in October, 2014.

Chairman Randall noted that “The minutes of a Tribal Council meeting held on October 16, 2013 indicate a motion to adopt the Tribe’s $17 million budget for 2014 was approved on a vote of 5-0. However, both the mover of the motion (then-Councilmember Randall) and the second cited in the minutes (Councilmember Curtis Simon) deny ever the matter being brought up for a vote, but rather the matter was tabled.” The Tribe alleges subsequent action taken by then-Chairman Cadue diverted trust funds set aside for minors to cover budget shortfalls among other discretions outlined in the petition.

Chairman Randall went on to say, “The Kickapoo Tribe is facing some challenging times due to actions of these fomer council members and the current Tribal Council members are working hard to rebuild trust with our members. This action will bring about a level of accountability that our members are asking for as well.”

The Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas has more than 1,600 members and is governed by its Tribal Council: Lester Randall, Chairman; Fred Thomas, Vice Chairman; Russell Bradley, Treasurer; Carla Cavin, Secretary; Tina Wahwasuck, Member; and Bernadette Thomas, Member.

The Tribe’s reservation land is located approximately five miles west of Horton, Kansas in Brown County and encompasses an area of approximately 30 square miles (the Tribe does not own all of the land located within the Federally-recognized reservation).

For more information on the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, including employment opportunities, please refer to the following Kickapoo Tribe websites: www.ktik-nsn.org and www.uoldeneau1ecasino.com