A newly-elected council member for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon faces removal after she made "racist comments" about a former employee.

Lisa Brown was elected to the council on February 7. Shortly before she was sworn into office the next day, she posted a comment on Siletz.Net, an independent web site run by a tribal member who supports Brown, that included a remark about Jim Kikumoto , a former tribal gaming employee of Japanese ancestry.

"Time to cut that budget - wherever possible - so members can get a bigger per capita,” Brown wrote in what the site's operator called a "rambling comment." “I was serious when I said we need to work Sar Richards into the GM position. And let Kikumoto know when it's time to go - I'll even learn how to say it in his ‘native' tongue - Japanese."

Brown's comment drew fire from other council members at a February 21 meeting, The Newport News Times reported. They passed a motion that accused Brown, among other charges, of making "racist comments," and scheduled an expulsion hearing at 1pm today.

If ousted, Brown will never be able to serve on the tribal council, the News Times said.

Kikumoto was the general manager of the Chinook Winds Casino Resort. He announced his resignation a week after the February 7 election. His last day on the job was March 1.

Get the Story:
Council seeking to oust Brown (The Newport News Times 3/18)

Earlier Story:
Kikumoto resigns from Chinook Winds (The Newport News Times 2/18)