Tribal Chairman Suspended Pending Removal Hearing

The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board suspended chairman Floyd Azure Nov. 5. Azure was escorted from council chambers by tribal police. He will face a removal hearing Dec. 3.

According to a press release, TEB alleges Azure violated the code of ethics with claims involving a construction company and by failing to work with board members dating back to Aug. 4. The press release states that Azure acted “in a manner prejudicial to the Tribes” and exhibited a “broad failure to ensure that departments are complying with federal programs.”

Vice-chairman Charlie Headdress will act as chair until the hearing.

The statement of charges issued by TEB claims Azure advocated on behalf of BP Construction to “receive upfront payments outside of the standard fiscal procedures.” It also states that he did not pursue “remedies for the Tribes to be reimbursed for expended funds exceeding $260,000” and alleges that he continued to inappropriately involve himself in BP matters after the Tribes filed litigation against the company for breach of contract.

Said the statement, “These actions explicitly violate the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board Code of Ethics.”

The statement claims Azure acted to “create division,” citing his “continued publications in the Fort Peck Journal letters that include false statements, personal opinions and unsupported allegations.”

The allegations also state that Azure failed to ensure that the Health Promotion Disease Prevention program prepared an annual budget for approval.

The chairman was unavailable for comment at press time.

It has been 16 years since another chairman was suspended. Chairman John Morales was suspended by the board and eventually removed following a hearing in 2004.