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.