I’m running to build independent governance, transparent leadership, accountable housing systems, expanded non-gaming distributions, and community-driven priorities that put Tribal Members first.
Real change happens when Tribal Members step up. Here are ways you can help build a stronger, more accountable future.
Door-to-door conversations and phone outreach to increase voter registration and petition signatures.
Help organize and host community gatherings, listening sessions, and informational events.
Assist with social media, graphics, messaging, and spreading updates to Tribal Members.
Help review budgets, policies, and council actions to support transparency and reform efforts.
7.5% Complete
Every signature moves us closer to restoring voting rights for all GTB Tribal Members. (Updated 2/14/2026)
SIGN THE VOTING PETITIONThis schedule includes official 2026 election milestones alongside community conversations hosted by our campaign.
Transparency starts with clarity so every important date is listed here prominently so Tribal Members can stay informed and involved.
Below are official election milestones from the 2026 Election Regulations, along with campaign-hosted events.
Deadline to submit completed Declaration of Candidacy and Consent forms.
The Membership Office begins accepting requests for absentee ballots for the 2026 Primary Election.
Deadline for the Election Board to release and post the list of registered voters and absentee voters for the Primary Election.
Join Andrew for a relaxed community evening to discuss voting rights, governance reform, and the future of our Tribe.
Lasagna dinner and light refreshments will be provided.
Planned activities include informal fireside-style discussion, open Q&A, and community conversation.
Billiards tables and lounge space available for casual engagement.
Community amenities available per facility guidelines.
Catering:
• Lasagna and salad from Folgarelli's Market & Wine Shop
• Fresh-baked cookies and pasteries
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks
A community update on petition progress, upcoming election milestones, and ways to get involved.
This will be a relaxed, welcoming space to connect with fellow Tribal Members.
Update and presentation for the first 20 minutes, followed by open conversation, billiards, and an Indian taco dinner.
Catering:
• Indian Tacos
• Fresh-baked cookies and pasteries
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks
Final deadline to submit a request for an absentee ballot for the 2026 Primary Election.
Absentee ballots mailed to each registered voter who submitted a timely request.
Final deadline to register to vote in the 2026 Primary Election.
A community update on petition progress, upcoming election milestones, and ways to get involved.
This will be a relaxed, welcoming space to connect with fellow Tribal Members.
Update and presentation for the first 20 minutes, followed by open conversation, billiards, and an Indian taco dinner.
Catering:
• Indian Tacos
• Fresh-baked cookies and pasteries
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks
Emergency absentee ballot requests must be made in person at the Membership Office by noon.
Testing and certification of polling machines conducted by the Election Board. Tribal Members may attend.
Deadline for receipt of absentee and emergency absentee ballots delivered by USPS mail to the Election Board P.O. Box.
Primary Election voting period. In-person deadline for receipt of absentee and emergency absentee ballots at the polling location.
Election Board may begin counting ballots. Unofficial results announced. Tribal Members may attend.
Requests must be submitted to the Membership Office by this date to vote absentee in the 2026 Primary Election.
Last day to register to vote in the 2026 Primary Election.
Vote in person or ensure your absentee ballot is received by this date.
Confirm voter registration
Request absentee ballot (if needed)
Attend a meet & greet
Vote on or before March 31
Download the official 2026 Election Regulations and timeline as published by the GTB Election Board. This document contains all deadlines and voting procedures.
Download Official Schedule1555 Ridge Blvd Traverse City, MI 49686
Voting is one of the most powerful tools Tribal Members have to shape leadership, policy, and long-term stability. Even when the system feels imperfect, participation remains the foundation of self-governance.
If you have stopped voting in recent years out of frustration or disengagement, you are not alone. Many Tribal Members feel their voices have been limited. But meaningful change has never come from stepping back --> it needs you to step forward.
The Grand Traverse Band currently operates under the last remaining Tribal Constitution in Michigan that restricts voting eligibility to a defined service area structure. As a result, a majority of enrolled adult Tribal Members do not have a direct vote in Tribal Council elections under current rules.
Understanding the current framework is essential to inform future improvements. When more members participate, whether through registration, absentee voting, or constitutional reform efforts, governance becomes stronger and more accountable.
Sovereignty is strongest when participation is broad, informed, and inclusive.
If elected, I will donate one quarter of my Tribal Council salary back to the community through a transparent, member-directed process modeled after what we’ve already implemented successfully in the GTB Community Facebook group.
Questions from Tribal Members should not disappear after elections. I will maintain a public, documented answer log addressing major governance, financial, housing, and legal concerns — with sources and follow-through.
I will advocate for structural separation between Tribal Council and enterprise boards such as EDC and GTED to reduce conflicts of interest and improve accountability.
If structural reform is not immediately achievable, I will use my background as an MSU-trained electrical engineer, and decades of automotive engineering and property manager experience, as well as my business operator acumen to strengthen performance, oversight, and decision-making through measurable metrics and transparent reporting.
I will advocate for a non-gaming per cap / General Welfare Distribution (GWD) model based on performance of all non-gaming enterprises — not hidden inside gaming or resort revenue.
Each enterprise should clearly report whether it contributes to the GWD — and if it does not, Tribal Members deserve a documented explanation. If a business is not profitable, we should know why, what the recovery plan is, and when performance will be reassessed.
I will push for a modern, transparent housing system that allows Tribal Members to clearly understand availability, costs, and waitlist status.
The current housing webpage functions more as a basic information portal than a true housing management system. It contains limited forms and visual walkthroughs, but it does not provide real-time information about unit availability, rental rates, renovation status, vacancy data, or construction timelines. There is also no anonymized waitlist system that allows applicants to verify their position in the queue — a basic transparency standard in modern housing programs.
Strong governance must prioritize the most vulnerable members of our community while expanding real economic opportunity. I will push for development of a Tribal treatment center, transitional housing or shelter options, and expanded elder support services.
At the same time, we must remove unnecessary employment barriers and ensure real jobs are accessible to Tribal Members — not just posted positions that remain out of reach.
I’m a Grand Traverse Band Tribal Member, an electrical engineer, and a community builder. I have lived in our 6-county service area and in Peshawbestown, and I’ve always stayed rooted in our wider homelands my entire life. The colonial 6-county area did not keep us all confined, although I now live in Traverse City. I am part of the Lewis and Gingway families and we've been here in Northern Michigan since the beginning.
Professionally, I’m a Senior Electrical Engineer in the automotive industry, focused on validation testing and process development for safety-critical vehicle systems at a Tier-1 supplier to nearly all OEMs worldwide. I’ve led cross-functional work across engineering, testing, and documentation — the kind of work that demands measurable results and public accountability. At Honda R&D Americas I supported chassis electrical systems and requirements work, including safety and validation disciplines that translate directly to governance: define the requirement, show the evidence, and own the outcome.
Outside of engineering, I’ve managed real projects in the real world — including long-term property rehabilitation and day-to-day operations through Daniwin Gashki, LLC. That experience shaped how I think about housing, budgets, timelines, and transparency: if you can’t track it, you can’t fix it.
One more thing I want to address directly: my last name. There is a historical figure named Andrew Myrick associated with the 1862 U.S.–Dakota genocide, remembered for a cruel remark during a starvation crisis. That person is not related to me in any way, and I’m not asking anyone to forget history. I’m doing the opposite: I’m here to help reverse the harms our people endured and to stand for dignity, transparency, and opportunity — so the name “Myrick” becomes associated with repair, not cruelty.
🧓 Andrew Myrick (1862): Mocked starving Natives.
✊ Andrew R. Myrick (2025): Stands for Native sovereignty.
History tried to stain the name but we reclaimed it.
