Tribal Campaign Finance Disclosure

During a principal chief candidates debate between Michell Hicks and Patrick Lambert about a year ago, Michell Hicks called for campaign finance disclosure laws. It's a great idea. In fact I called for candidates for office to voluntarily disclosure their campaign finance donations and spending in an editorial while I was still editor of the One Feather.
Only one candidate responded, and it wasn't Michell Hicks. James "Butch" Sanders, a Tribal Council candidate for Wolfetown, who didn't prevail, responded to disclose his campaign finances, which came out of his pocket.
We can research who donated to the campaigns of President Elect Barack Obama and his challenger John McCain. We can do the same for Sen. Elect Kay Hagan and her opponent Elizabeth Dole as well as for Gov. Elect Beverly Perdue and her opponent Pat McCrory, Heath Shuler, who won a second term and his challenger Carl Mumpower and every other candidate for any elected office in the state.
However, we can't research who donated to Michell Hicks or Patrick Lambert because there is no tribal law requiring such disclosure. While Hicks was asking for something perfectly right and just when he made such a suggestion, his actions don't exactly show sincerity. This is a chief who vetoed the public information law when it was passed by Tribal Council, and his veto was based upon a presumption of some people using the law for less than honorable purposes. He's argued against requiring the tribe to disclose its federal campaign donations, and he also hasn't made tribal campaign finance disclosure a priority. The purpose shouldn't matter, either its public or it isn't, and that's how it should be with campaign finance.
I have a lot of questions over the last principal chiefs' election. Were tribal funds used to finance any candidate's campaign? Did Harrah's donate to any candidates running for office? They've made other campaign donations to candidates at other levels. Would it be a stretch to suspect Harrah's could have done the same at the tribal level, particularly to keep candidates in office who wouldn't push for an end to their management contract? How will we ever know?
It's well known the motivation behind campaign donations. It's to get something in return upon the said candidates' elections to office. That certainly was tribal government's intention for the donations it made. The same can be said for any donation made to Michell Hicks or any other candidate for any elected tribal office.
Regardless of any tribal member's intention in seeking information on any tribal candidate's campaign finances, they are tribal government's constituents and have a right to know.

Upcoming Council Legislation

Got a copy of the Dec. 4 Tribal Council Agenda today. Some things have caught my eye and I have a few questions and comments.
* At 9:50 a.m. Editorial Board – submitted by Manager of Marketing & Promotions. I thought that legislation had been passed that was submitted by the director of Marketing & Promotions making the staff of the One Feather and Director of Marketing & Promotions the Editorial Board as required by the Free Press Act. When the tribe opens for business Monday, I'll inquire further. Assuming that nothing has been passed on this, my comments are, passing this legislation undermines the Free Press Act since the One Feather would be put back under the supervisory scope of the principal chief. Any hope of independence for the One Feather will be shot to hell. The other problem is it's based upon the idea that the One Feather will always be under Marketing & Promotions (a huge conflict of interest) and that whoever replaces Michell Hicks, by law, would be stuck leaving the One Feather under that division. As much as he wants it, Michell Hicks will not be chief forever. Since finding professional and ethical individuals to sit on this board that would oversee the One Feather appears to be so problematic, and since tribal government has shown no intention whatsoever of enforcing the Free Press Act, then why not just rescind the Free Press Act? It's not as though the One Feather is a real newspaper at this point anyway. How about being honest about it?
* 11:40 a.m. and 2:10 p.m. - There are two proposals from Wolfetown Rep. Susan Toineeta to have a referendum question on whether to allow the practice of brown bagging (bringing your own alcoholic beverages) in business establishments on tribal land. First of all, understand that the referendum regulations passed by Tribal Council and ratified by the chief do allow council members to introduce referendum requests through legislation, without obtaining a number of signatures. There currently is a move from individuals seeking to hold a referendum to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in the casino, something that Toineeta has opposed. If her legislation passes, it's a slap in the face to at least nearly 1,400 voters at this point who've signed the petition, a good number of them from Toineeta's community. While Old Antioch Baptist Church Pastor Denny Crowe may praise Toineeta's proposal, that's hardly representative of the tribe as a whole, or Wolfetown for that matter. Another question is she refers to the first question on the referendum. What referendum? The chief vetoed the last referendum proposed through council legislation. And let's not change the wording on any referendum sought by those currently petitioning to make another one happen. Why this is on the agenda twice also is a complete mystery.
* Toineeta has a proposal to establish a "Charter Committee." Any ethical legal professional would tell you that the 1986 Charter is a load of horse fertilizer. It holds no water as a legal governing document in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act, of which the Eastern Band of Cherokee agreed to comply. Tribal Council in 1993 even conceded that the Charter isn't valid. Once again, I'll have to seek clarification. If Toineeta is seeking to legitimize the Charter then is a that a confession that the very document she and the rest of the tribe's elected officials, judges and justices swore oaths to uphold is invalid? Or is she seeking to further legislation introduced by then Wolfetown Rep. Carroll Crowe that sought to establish a constitution committee and possibly get that process started? In either case, such a committee should not come from Tribal Council, nor the chief. It should come from the communities. There was a time when the tribal community clubs played a larger role in the governance of our tribe. Some incredibly wise decisions have been made at that level. In fact community clubs nominated candidates for Tribal Council. It's time to go back to that, especially for an issue this important. Furthermore, a constitution/charter committee established by Council parallels a Colonial Independence Committee established by the British Parliament with the king's approval. Some of us don't feel that a council/chief-appointed committee would respect the ideals of a democratic constitution.

Reflections on Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It's been a tough year for me and my family since last November. The current state of the economy has forced us into being mostly online, which in the long run will be better for us. Both my wife and I had left employment in Cherokee. My leaving was by force, but the two of us are happier despite making a lot less money.
I for one am a better person since that day.
I have a lot to be thankful for. I still have my home. I still have my family, and we're in reasonably good health. The superficial things I've learned to live without.
I'm one of those people who believes things happen for a reason, and I honestly feel that the events of a year ago, which removed me as editor of the One Feather, ultimately led to the creation of a new publication have put me in the position for a different calling. I'm actually considering putting on the helmet and coming off the sidelines. Look for it next spring.
For my fellow tribal members, sure there's a lot that gives you reason feel angry, but don't ever say things couldn't be worse because they can. Consider what you have to be thankful for, then work to change things for the better.

How to Fit In With the Hicks Administration - Commit a Crime

I didn't fit in very well with the clique that is the Hicks administration. Some could argue that it just was a clash of personalities. Hicks ran on a platform of "honesty and integrity," which implies accountability. That would mean that Hicks would've been a man I should've gotten strongly behind. However if hypocrisy is the greatest luxury, then Principal Chief Michell Hicks is living in the lap of it. His hypocrisy was the basis for much of the conflict between us.
Anyone is welcome to question my integrity, but the truth is there is no real dirt on me. Feel free to do a background search. In addition to North Carolina, I've lived in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Alabama. I've been in every state east of the Mississippi River, except Rhode Island. West of the big river, I've been in Minnesota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and California. In Canada I've been in Ontario and New Brunswick, but aside from that I've never left the United States. If you find anything other than traffic offenses, that's news to me.
Can't say the same for some of the big players with Principal Chief Michell Hicks:
* Chief Hicks himself was charged with assault on a female in 1999. Think about that next time he signs a domestic violence proclamation.
* Vice Chief Larry Blythe was charged with child abuse after striking his son with the buckle end of a belt.
* Chief Hicks Uncle Robert "Squinch" Long is a convicted sex offender. The chief appointed him to serve on the Tribal Employment Rights Office Board of Commissioners.
* Brandon Stephens, who ran unsuccessfully for County Commissioner in Jackson County, was convicted of rape in 1994. While no doubt that Stephens has done good work getting grants and other money for the tribe under three different chiefs, including Hicks, when I brought his record up at the time he was running, he accused me of using it as a smear against the chief.
* Chief Hicks ally Angie Kephart was recently charged with domestic violence after hitting her husband. The charges were dismissed.
* Big time Hicks supporter and campaiger Glenda Sanders, Kephart's mother, received probation and a suspended sentence for a misdemeanor offense in 1986.
* Deputy of Finance Charles Penick was charged with assault.
It seems if I had beaten up my wife, raped a couple of women and committed some other crimes, particularly crimes of dishonesty, I probably would've fit in just fine with this administration. I never particularly cared whether the chief liked me, and I still don't. I'm not going to cry in my sandbox because Michell Hicks won't play with me. That I'm an outcast, is something I should take as a blessing. Some would say it's a badge of honor.

On Tribal Leadership Optimism With Gov. Elect Perdue

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that the tribe is optimistic about Gov. Elect Beverly Perdue and gaming expansion talks, particularly in seeking table games. This is what Principal Chief Michell Hicks told them: "I think the difference between the current administration and Beverly is she is going to be approachable, and respectful of the tribe, and give us the opportunity to talk about the things that are important to the tribe and Western North Carolina."
Perdue is approachable. I asked her for her position on table games at an NC Press Association Convention in Asheville last summer. While mentioning work to get casino gaming in Cherokee with Gov. Jim Hunt, she wouldn't say what she'd do in this instance. Perdue remembered meeting me from my work at the Cherokee One Feather.
Perdue is a dignified and classy lady, which is what concerns me about any meeting she may have with Chief Hicks.
While Gov. Mike Easley is bullheaded and hostile, particularly to the press, there isn't much difference between him and Hicks. When Gov. Easley broke off gaming expansion talks, Chief Hicks responded with a hate-filled diatribe disguised as a press release to the area media. Leading to that blow up, Hicks had been misleading the public about how well those talks were going, and two tribal politicians, two that supported him last election, have even said that the chief was lying. When the governor questioned Chief Hicks' professionalism, the chief's response may as well have been "I know you are, but what am I?" To paraphrase, he basically said that Gov. Easley should look in the mirror. Maybe that's not a bad suggestion since the two could be mirror images of each other, particularly in ideology.
It wasn't long before that Hicks couldn't hide his admiration for Gov. Easley. In one of his pieces of PR fluff mailed out to tribal members, Hicks and his wife were pictured posing with the governor. Tribal government donated to Easley's campaign with Hicks' blessing. Hicks also had no problem with Easley campaigning behind closed doors in Cherokee.
But then came the disagreement. It's the "you're either with me or you're against me," side of Michell Hicks that I quickly got to know upon his first taking office. It's not the best side to put forth during negotiations. It sure isn't the way to win friends and influence people, and outside of voter fraud, it will cost him an election.
What Michell Hicks just doesn't get is that respect must be earned, and just because someone shows disrespect to Chief Hicks doesn't mean they disrespect the tribe. Perdue has been coming to Cherokee before getting elected governor. She's been willing to answer questions, and she has been respectful of the media. She certainly deserves our respect. I hope Chief Hicks will be professional and mature enough to show it, even in the face of disagreements because I can't imagine that even she would agree to table games with no further tribal concessions.
I hope that Chief Hicks can accomplish gaming expansion, however my gut tells me that for the tribe to ever see table games, not only will it take replacing Gov. Easley, Chief Hicks will need to be replaced as well.

With Others Cutting Costs, What is Tribal Government Doing?

Businesses aren't the only ones feeling the pinch in this economy. Local governments around us are cutting costs too. What's tribal government prepared to do?
Before the chief and vice chief sit down and discuss who they want to lose their jobs, here are some cost cutting suggestions before taking that drastic measure:
1. Stop all frivolous projects. The golf course comes to mind.
2. Actually have real, honest bidding for the necessary projects so that the much needed school construction could possibly save money.
3. Reevaluate what we spend on lobbying and campaign donations. Some of this may need to be cut out altogether.
4. Support any proposals that could actually raise revenue for the tribe.
Aside from these suggestions, should it have to come to cutting jobs, start from the top down. One glaring example is the deputy level of tribal government. Only one of those currently occupying these costly positions actually is worth the pay. Otherwise its a pointless and expensive level of bureaucracy that only serves to keep more distance between the chief and his constituents. Also how about ensuring that the tribe is getting the best for its money. Make everyone in management level and above reapply. Those who don't have the proper credentials should get their pink slips.
Better than that Tribal Council, Chief Hicks and Vice Chief Blythe, how about cutting your bloated salaries? I doubt honest polling would show that a majority of tribal members support the raises you gave yourselves, and you should never ask the employees to do what you yourselves aren't willing to do.
Tough times will call for sacrifices to be made by us all. No different should be expected of the tribe's elected officials.

Area Media Cutting Jobs

The Asheville Citizen-Times closed its Asheville printing facility sending it's printing duties to Greenville, S.C. At least 60 people are expected to be put out of work by this move. The Cherokee Times was printed by the Citizen-Times' Asheville facility. WLOS also recently laid off six workers, according to Ashvegas, who cites one of its readers.
I know all too well how tough things are. It's why the Cherokee Times has been strictly online recently, and I had to layoff workers as well, myself among them.
I can say that when times got tough, my salary was the first to go. Can Ford, GM or Chrysler's CEO say that? Can Citibank? What about Sinclair Broadcasting who owns WLOS or Gannett who owns the Citizen-Times?
I have good friends working for both the newsroom at WLOS and at the Citizen-Times. As bad as things have been for my publication, I certainly hope none of them feel the pinch or fall victim to the axe. While there does appear to be some hope for the future, it isn't likely to improve anytime soon. I certainly wish the best for them.

Is the Casino Cutting Jobs While Still Profitable?

I've never been impressed by the leadership of Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel General Manager Darold Londo. He's done an inadequate job of employee engagement. He avoids the media like the flu, often times throwing the External Relations Director Joyce Dugan under the bus, unless it's been an opportunity to be on television. Twice under his leadership player and employee personal information that could've led to identity theft was released on property, and no one has any idea what's being done to get tribal members ready to run the property as the management agreement between the Eastern Band of Cherokee and Harrah's requires.
This latest particular instance is just unbelievable.
Employees in certain departments in the casino have been put out of their jobs. Yes it's understandable that the casino's profits are down. I'm not advocating that the casino needs to spend unnecessarily, but at the same time it needs to take care of its employees. If the property is still making a profit, why cut jobs?
While the majority of the casino's employees aren't tribal members, of those who are, most if asked would likely choose their salary over matching or besting previous per capita disbursements. None of us really wants to see jobs lost, especially when it isn't necessary, and especially when the ones losing their jobs likely have nowhere else to go.
What is so disturbing is the likely motivation behind it, saving face. Tribal politicians don't want to have to answer questions about why per capita is down, and Londo likely doesn't want to be on the hot seat to have to face those politicians who'd likely grill him, if they'll grill him.
Londo's two predecessors often got grilled in front of Council over really mundane issues. Will they grill him over this? Probably not, especially if his actions help what has to be the most spineless Tribal Council save face.
Per capita was not the point of the casino's inception. It was jobs and economic development. Putting people on the unemployment rolls doesn't help the region's economy. However if jobs have to be cut at the casino, why not start with some high paying jobs like a VP or a GM?
The phone operators, housekeepers and other low level hourly positions are the ones who keep that facility running and they're the ones who interact the most with the property's customers. Only as a last resort should the casino cut these jobs.

Update - Press Freedom

While I haven't heard back from my attorney since he sent me the latest order on my lawsuit for wrongful termination, I can say that I'm glad that the general theory of my lawsuit which alleged wrongful termination based upon violations of the tribe's free press act and the Indian Civil Rights Act will continue.
The court rejected my claim for wrongful termination based upon breach of implied contract, but it is going to hear my claims based upon violations of public policy. The court also dismissed my claims against Principal Chief Michell Hicks and his Deputy of Finance Charles Penick in their individual capacities, but claims against the chief in his official capacity as well as claims against Tribal Council who failed to hold the chief accountable for his violation will still be heard.
I was disappointed, but I am pleased that the court, for which I have every reason to question its impartiality, didn't just dismiss the whole case, as the defendants were requesting.
I look forward to telling it all once this whole case is done with, and since I fully expect it to run its course at the tribal level and go on to the federal level, that could be a while.

Congressional Candidate on Special Interests and the People of Snowbird

Carl Mumpower, who failed in his bid to unseat 11th Congressional District Rep. Heath Shuler, wrote in the Asheville Citizen-Times today about his experiences, refusing PAC money and praise he had for the people of the Snowbird Community.

Read about it here:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200881119012

Mumpower was much maligned by Principal Chief Michell Hicks and other tribal government officials over remarks he made about Cherokee as a "corrupt special interest." While I didn't care for his all encompassing characterization, I understood where he was going with it. I didn't agree entirely with Mumpower's platform, but I certainly appreciated his attention to corruption in tribal government. No one else running for office addressed it, especially not those who accepted campaign donations from tribal coffers.

Experiences With Freedom of the Press

For more than a decade, I've fooled myself into believing that I was editing a newspaper when I was over the One Feather. Although Principal Chiefs Joyce Dugan and Leon Jones allowed me to operate it like a newspaper, when Michell Hicks became chief, it was clear that the One Feather is a newsletter disguised as a newspaper. My resistance to this idea cost me my job.
I currently have a lawsuit against the tribe for wrongful termination. While I can't discuss any legal strategy, I can discuss what has been public.
First of all I was clearly punished for stating opinions that Chief Hicks didn't like. Now one could say that my lawsuit is about my anger with the chief, and I was angry. That's not the case now. Now I'm just disgusted at him. He clearly is suffering from BMOBS syndrome (Believe My Own BS), and Tribal Council has just become his enablers.
My lawsuit is about holding the chief accountable, especially since Tribal Council failed to do it. He violated the tribe's Free Press law, twice, a year ago.
I hope that tribal court will hold him accountable. I have my doubts, especially when a judge, whose paycheck is signed by guess who, suggests that justice in my case is served by the fact that I've been able to criticize tribal leadership in my own publication. As much as I doubt the trial level courts, I have less faith in the tribal Supreme Court. Justices who are appointed by Chief Hicks, one of whom has a husband with a lucrative lobbying contract that can held over her head, don't reassure me.
While I lack faith in the courts, just as I did with a Council who sat on their hands, one even praising the chief's illegal actions, I still have faith in the private press, and I challenge all non-tribal media to take a hard and honest look at the tribe's leadership and report the truth. Scratch below the facade provided by the tribe's half-baked PR department and report an honest view of the tribe. It's not all the chief handing out free backpacks and Christmas boxes to the elderly. So to other bloggers, Citizen-Times, WLOS, Smoky Mountain News and other non-tribal publications, turn on the lights in Cherokee and see for yourself what vermin scatters. Exposing problems is the first step toward finding a solution.

Tsali Care on the Watch List

If there's any demographic the tribe needs to particularly protect, its the tribe's most vulnerable - the children and the elderly. After employing a sex offender, a council member's brother nonetheless, in the Dora Reed Child Care Center and other areas where the tribal leadership has shown a lack of interest in youth programs, it's clear that the tribal leadership has failed in that area.
Given the continued downturn in health care quality, it appears that the elderly in our tribe are also not a priority.
But this is unbelievable. Tsali Care Center, which has been tribally operated in recent years falling under the tribe's Health and Medical division, has made a national nursing home watch list. Memberofthefamily.net, for which Dr. Edward C. Watters, III, coauthor of "Danger Zone," a book featured on the "Today" show which details secrets of the nursing home industry, is an advocate, rates Tsali Care Center as having potential for more than minimal harm and actual harm and immediate jeopardy. Some of the noted violations are for ensuring that residents are properly nourished, providing care in a way that renders dignity and respect, having drugs and similar products needed in everyday emergencies, ensuring the center is free of potential accidents and developing care plans that meet all of the residents' needs with a measurable time table.
Tsali Care Center has had its problems since its inception, but this takes the cake. Something had to be up with tribal upper management, including Deputy of Health and Medical Susan Leadingfox and Principal Chief Michell Hicks, when it decided what's acceptable for the residents of Tsali Care Center to read (for example banning the Cherokee Times from the center). This latest incident demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the residents of Tsali Care Center. Many of these residents fought for the tribe and country going back as far as World War II. They deserve better than this, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the chief, Leadingfox, or anyone on Tribal Council to do anything meaningful about it.

Alcohol Sales Referendum Petition

It appears as though the group gathering petition signatures is having some success. They reportedly are close to reaching the goal, and we can expect this issue to be presented before Tribal Council again, only this time with the backing of at least 1,500 registered tribal voters.
No doubt the religious right in Cherokee, with whom Principal Chief Michell Hicks has formed an unholy alliance, will be there to bluster about "our children going to hell for our sins (how about actually reading the Bible you thump so profusely Mr. Crowe)." It will be interesting to see how the rest of Tribal Council will vote upon being presented with a request backed by 1,500 voters. Will Wolfetown Rep. Susan Toineeta and Chairman Mike Parker respect the will of their constituents, or will they cower to self-righteous blowhards, some of whom may have even encouraged voters not to cast ballots for Toineeta since they believe that women shouldn't hold elected office? Will Cherokee County/Snowbird Rep. Angie Kephart ignore these petition signatures and use the opportunity to put herself on a phony pedestal of moral superiority, when her private life hardly mirrors the image of a pillar of moral strength and character.
Most importantly, will Michell Hicks actually listen to the voices of those who signed the petition, or will his personal opinion and political agenda take precedence with him using the petition as a hit list to punish his critics.
The group collecting these signatures is to be congratulated for their hard work. Should the elected officials of the tribe choose to ignore the voices of those who signed the petition, this same group should direct their efforts to getting those tribal officials voted out of office.

Another Medium The Tribe Can't Control

YouTube is another forum for which news, commentary, opinion and yes, satire can be used by tribal members about their government.



This video was created in March. I have no idea who created it, other than an online forum user name. I can't say that this is constructive criticism. If you're easily offended, I recommend not watching it. But it's a clear demonstration of what's possible, especially online, when tribal government lacks control. People can complain about tribal government control of the "One Feather," but that's the only medium they can control. There's a whole big world of media out there tribal members. Take advantage of it.

To Rep. Heath Shuler and State Sen. Snow

First of all, I congratulate Heath Shuler and State Sen. John Snow on their reelections to another term. However, I was troubled by some of their actions recently. Shuler chose to ignore calls of some tribal members to get federal intervention in the tribe's government, seeking relief from an abusive tribal government. State Sen. John Snow pressured a Cherokee County magistrate, who was also a tribal member, over domestic violence charges filed against Tribal Council Member Angie Kephart, who's one of the most abusive of tribal elected officials.
Both gentlemen need to be reminded just who the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is, and it's not Michell Hicks and Kephart, not entirely. It's 13,000 members of the tribe, most of whom want their tribal government to be accountable, honest and open, something that Principal Chief Hicks and Kephart have not been.
Tribal government is a cesspool in the middle of a rose garden. Tribal members know that something doesn't smell right, but politicians like Snow and Shuler, who've cozied up to those who keep the cesspool stirring, refuse to acknowledge that something obviously stinks, and that's a far greater embarrassment than it would be to hold ethically-challenged tribal officials accountable for their actions, like a federal court did to Principal Chief Jonathan Taylor who now stands as a felon convicted of tax evasion (after that what could possibly be a greater embarrassment?).
To put this in perspective, tribal members are like the democracy advocates in Pakistan. Imagine how they felt to see President Bush cozying up to their despotic government.
So to Sen. Snow and Rep. Shuler, remember who your constituents really are when representing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Raleigh and in Washington. It's not the 14 (some of them questionably) elected officials in the Council House. It's the 13,000 individual tribal members, some of whom were disgusted enough by your coddling to cast ballots for your opponents.

Is the Tribe Buying Cherokee Hardware?

The economy is in the worst shape that I've ever seen it. Jobless rates are rising. The Dow Jones has been a rollercoaster. We're probably on the verge of another depression.
The tribe doesn't operate in a vacuum. The casino's reported drop in profits is proof of that. Sooner, more likely than later, the tribe is going to have to seriously trim its budget and curtail its spending. That's why any tribal proposal to purchase any business is outrageous, especially when the price could likely be inflated and especially when a powerful elected official has ties to that business.
While I haven't seen any concrete proposals to buy Cherokee Hardware, owned by the principal chief's in-laws, it's disheartening enough that the tribe bought the land under which the business was located, whereby lease payments could've been influenced by the chief. Now it stands that the chief could influence the sale of the business to the tribe. This all comes five years after he issued an executive order requiring tribal programs to use materials from this business.
Too many questions exist before Tribal Council passes this proposal.
It's hard to believe that with all of the contracts through the Tribal Business Preference Ordinance (AKA TERO), that this business would be in financial trouble, especially with all of the potential for materials sold for construction projects. The other is if it is in finanancial trouble, why should the tribe bail it out? $3million is a lot to ask for.
What makes this particularly sickening is if the tribe is bailing out a financially troubled business, why should this one get preference? It's not as though there aren't other businesses in Cherokee struggling. This smacks of impropriety, and Tribal Council should rightfully reject it should it ever hit the floor. It also brings forth, once again, the need for the tribe to have ethics laws in place for public officials.
We'll keep you posted.

Cherokee County Deserves Better Health Care Access

This comes out of what has been absolutely unbelievable when it comes to tribal government. Indian Health Service has been underfunded for decades. In order to meet IHS facility shortcomings, the tribe operates a number of its own health care programs. Over the last few years, the upper management has been reducing health care services while the need has increased, and it's not as though the tribe can't fund these programs. Tribal leadership misplaces its priorities. Frivolous items like the theater that averages about 3-4 cars a night seem to get unlimited funding while health care and education fall lower on the totem pole.
Tribal members residing in Cherokee County are just as much tribal members as Principal Chief Michell Hicks and Deputy of Health and Medical Susan Leadingfox. Perhaps one of these two can explain while tribal members in Cherokee County deserve to be treated like second class citizens.
Read about it:
http://www.cherokeetimesonline.com/Editorial.html

Obama's Election Offers Hope For Change for the Eastern Band Too

The election of Barack Obama, the country's first black president, overcomes nearly insurmountable odds. It also offers hope that we as a people can overcome any obstacle. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has been in a quagmire for more than 20 years. What Obama showed us is that we as a people can accomplish anything. We can take our government back.
This week's opinion piece is on just such a subject. If we band together, we can take our government back regardless of what the old order thows in our way. Remember that in 2009 and 2011. The piece can be read here.
http://www.cherokeetimesonline.com/Opinion.html

New Election Board

There's been some buzzing about Tribal Council getting ready to appoint a new election board. I'm not expecting a new board to be appointed, with the exception of a possible replacement for Marie Smith, who is the only board member worth keeping.
The goal of the election board is the ensure not only that elections run smoothly, but that they're run fairly. The current election board did neither the past election in 2007.
This election board failed to report a break in to its offices after the 07 primary where Michell Hicks and Patrick Lambert were the top vote getters. Of those two, Lambert was the only one to question the election board's action. During a meeting with candidates, which Hicks decided to skip, to discuss the issues, the election board responded to understandable hostility from candidates with contempt. Board member Wanda Jackson, who was particularly rude, waived around the tribal election ordinance as though it were some kind of scripture.
Board members also dismissed the notion that it's possible to determine how voters cast a ballot despite requiring them to sign a list at the table, by a number, for which a corresponding number appears in the machine after depositing a ballot. They ignored reports about the faulty machines used to scan ballots, as well as reports that those machines are vulnerable to tampering and rigging and refused to concede the possibility that ballots may have been tampered with as well to matched the scanned tally.
The board also ignored reports that the company used to conduct the elections has been linked to botched elections in the Cherokee Nation, the Navajos and a number of other tribes as well.
They also were dismissive of poll workers letting voters cast ballots without a photo ID.
Then of course there was the inexcusable action in the Wolfetown general election where 60 voters names were misplaced from the records. Many of those voters decided not to cast ballots after being told to vote elsewhere. The margin of victory for those who prevailed in Wolfetown and the principal chief was less than the number of voters in Wolfetown who weren't allowed to cast ballots.
The board with an opportunity to fix the issues that arose during the last election chose not to address the problems in a new election ordinance. No provisional ballots for those affected by possible errors. No serious provisions to protect the anonymity of ballots cast and of course no provisions for recall elections. However the board did introduce more stringent requirements to hold referendums, which Tribal Council passed, and the chief gleefully signed. The current election board at best is incompetent. At worst it's biased and unethical. Since election board appointments will be made by the very officials who benefitted from a broken system, it's doubtful there will be any major change in the board, but there's no question that their constituents deserve better. Hopefully the majority of Council will see it that way.