All Cowlitz Matter is supporting the following candidates for Tribal Council
General Council Vice Chair: Greg Hitchcock
General Council Treasurer: Joshua Swanson
Tribal Council:
Kris Dillehay
Dianna Edison
Anna Squires
Brad Thayer
Rod Van Mechelen
David (Darwin) Workman
Bylaw amendments:
Yes to raising the Quorum
Yes to changing the order of General Council meetings
All candidates endorsed by All Cowlitz Matter support:
- Abiding by the General Councils Allocation vote results
- Providing benefits to members no matter where they live
- Providing the maximum sustainable GWE to members
- Providing members with factual and timely information
- Expanding our economic base
- Health care for members no matter where they live
- Efforts to restore hunting, fishing and gathering rights, expand language services
More details
Greg Hitchcock – Greg has been General Council Vice Chair since 2022. He was instrumental in getting the allocation vote out to membership by helping present it to the members in June 2024 and fighting off attempts to delay the vote in the summer and fall of 2024. Greg has represented the tribe numerous times including providing Congressional testimony. Fun fact: Greg developed many of the computer fonts you use each day.
Joshua Swanson – Joshua has an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University. During his time working for the State of Washington, he worked on complex budgets. His work as a lobbyist for both state agencies and outside organizations has sharpened his communication skill, allowing him to condense complex information into an understandable format. He would bring an independent voice to the job. Fun fact: Joshua worked as a lobbyist for the Seattle Fire Department during the 2026 Washington Legislative Session.
Kris Dillehay – Kris has been on Tribal Council since 2022. She worked for 30 years as a manager in the restaurant industry. Kris brings an extensive cultural background to Tribal Council. She is experienced in both Cedar Weaving and Beading. Fun fact: Kris has an entire room in her house dedicated to her cultural work full of beads, sweet grass, cedar and a sewing machine.
Dianna Edison – Dianna spent years working in property management where she oversaw country clubs across the United States. About six months ago she took the job as the Tribes Enrollment Officer and moved to the northwest. Fun fact: Diana worked for the Department of Defense in Military Personnel when her family lived in Germany.
Anna Squires – Anna was an officer in the US Army where she led a chemical weapons cleanup team. She also worked for Washington DSHS and as a claims adjuster for State Farm. These positions have given her the ability to take in large amounts of information and work toward reaching fair settlement for all involved. She will use these skills to help our members if elected to Tribal Council. Fun fact: Anna and her family live on a farm and recently named one of the newborn calves Sir Loin.
Brad Thayer – Brad works in transportation management for a large Washington School district. He is responsible for making sure over 10,000 students get to and from school each day. He has been a member of the US Army Reserves for over 20 years. If elected to Tribal Council, Brad’s knowledge of logistics will greatly benefit our members. Fun fact: Brad recently traveled to Japan with his family.
Rod Van Mechelen – Rod has been a member of Tribal Council off and on since 2002. He created a tribal email list which has provided many of you with information about what is happening in the tribe. Fun fact: Rod paid his way through college working nights for UPS.
David (Darwin) Workman – David has had a varied work background everything from bartending to his current job working as a crane technician. Even though he is sent all over the place for his job he attends almost every tribal council meeting in person. David would bring this dedication and work ethic to Tribal Council. For those wondering why David didn’t turn in a tribal voter pamphlet statement, he was traveling for work during the submission window. Fun Fact: David was recently bought a new house with a yard his dogs love.
Quorum Bylaw Amendment – We are asking you to approve the quorum bylaw amendment. It would take the number of people necessary to do business at the General Council from 30 members to 5% of the voting membership (currently around 170 members). This bylaw amendment was suggested by a number of General Council members who have seen proposed actions debated after most of those attending the General Council meeting had already left. Currently as long as 30 people are present, actions can be taken in the name of all General Council.
Order of Meeting Bylaw Amendment – We are asking you to vote yes to approve a change to the order of events at the General Council meeting. This would put action items at the front of the meeting keeping them from being debated late in the evening when most members attending the meeting have already left.