The Furor Over Losses in the Minor's Fund

If one visits easternband.com one will see the anger over the losses in the minors and incompetents' fund. Don Rose, a candidate for Tribal Council in Painttown has also noted the losses before in an oped piece for the Cherokee Times.
The anger is clearly justified, however, it does need to be noted, tribal government didn't "steal" this money from the the children, but it may as well have. The fact is tribal government was well within its power to stop the losses from happening. It chose to do nothing, to leave the investing up to a broker, who has no stake in anything with the tribe other than to keep a client.
The minor's and incompetents' fund never should've been invested in the high-risk, extremely volatile stock market to begin with, but when the trouble with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac started, that should've been an indicator to move this money to low-risk or no-risk investments. Anyone with any sense with investing would've seen the writing on the wall. Yet, nothing was done. When the markets went to hell last fall, much of our children's money went with it. Tribal Council and the chief bear just as much responsibility as the investment committee and broker in what happened. They're all privy to such information in which they could've made wiser investment decisions.
Now tribal government is playing the blame game. I'm not so much interested in who's to blame. I want to know what do our leaders plan to do about it. I for one think parents should have an option in how their children's money is invested. I have a child on the way, and I don't trust tribal government to properly manage his or her money. If tribal officials insist on us as parents having no input, than they should at least have the courtesy of placing only financial planners on the committee, who can and will grow the children's money conservatively but surely. You don't go to a plastic surgeon to remove a cancerous tumor, and you shouldn't go to an accountant and broker for investment advice.
We can talk about who's at fault for this later. Right now, fix the problem so it doesn't happen again.

What Does the Citizen-Times Consider Appropriate?

I recall the furor over "Rants and Raves" at the One Feather as Chief Hicks and others felt as though some of what was published was inappropriate. I did have standards for this anonymous forum. I certainly never published any of the types of remarks that appear on the Asheville Citizen-Times' anonymous online forums through topix.net. I'll spare republishing the disgusting remarks made about tribal member Anita Vestal who will be facing charges of helping a murder suspect escape. Anyone who wants to see them can click this link. The Citizen-Times rightfully refuses to publish remarks that are racist or just mean spirited in its letters to the editor, but the topix forums appear to allow anything. Remarks made about Vestal and the escaped suspect have been centered on the escapee's race and Vestal's weight, truely classless, tasteless and racist remarks that add nothing of value to the debate.
I'm not advocating censorship. The Citizen-Times can do what it wants, but given the ever strengthening significance of the internet, the publication would do well to have the same standards it has for letters to the editor, better police what comes through its online forums and keep this kind of garbage out. Publishing remarks like these cheapens the publication.

Vice Chief's Niece Sought With Murder Suspect

A capital murder suspect Jeffrey Miles escaped from the Swain County Jail, allegedly with the help of guard Anita Vestal. Vestal is the niece of Vice Chief Larry Blythe.
Miles is charged with first degree murder in the killing of James David Scott Wiggins and Michael Heath Compton Aug. 8 last year.
Law enforcement is on the lookout for a red 2001, Ford Ranger pickup truck with a maroon camper top. It should have North Carolina plates. Miles is black, 6'2" and weighs between 180-190 pounds. Vestal is Native American 5'3" and 275 pounds.
I've had my political differences with Vice Chief Blythe, but I certainly don't want to see any harm done to him or anyone in his family. Vestal is in considerable danger, and I hope she returns safely. We should all pray for her safe return.

Persian Gulf Comes to the Mountains

Not much I can add to this post. I think the photos are self explanatory. I also think it's an insult to the sacrifices of tribal members who served in Desert Storm and the current war in Iraq. It's nice to know that we're paying the Goss Agency in Asheville to do it too.

New edit: There is something I can add. Michell Hicks' "Sequoyah clothes" became fodder for a lot of jokes. The clothes aren't the point. The fact is the Goss Agency in Asheville was paid to put this crap up in Cherokee. To the tourists passing through it looks like some anonymous Cherokee man promoting tourism. To those who live under Hicks' rule, it smacks of the type of narcissism displayed in Syria and Saddam Hussein's Iraq. It sends the message, "I'm in charge and there's nothing you can do about it."
Last I checked, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians was a democracy. The chief even said so to angry Snowbird residents seeking to separate from Cherokee County because of feelings of disenfranchisement. There is something we can do. We can elect representatives who will actually give the people a voice and put a stop to the self-serving madness that is every bit on the same scale as AIG.

Tribal Leadership Loses Millions of Our Children's Money - Where's the Outrage?

Don Rose, a candidate for Painttown, wrote an op ed piece for cherokeetimesonline.com pointing out that the tribe's endowment and per capita fund for tribal members under 18 years of age lost $60 million as of Dec. 31, 2008. He also notes that given January and Feburary were some of the worst months for the stock market, that figure may now be more than $80 million lost. Who's going to take responsbility for this? Apparently no one.
The chief, Tribal Council, the Investment Committee (made up of appointees approved by the chief and Tribal Council), and the broker in control of the funds all point the finger somewhere else. He points out that your broker doesn't always have your best interest at heart. He also points out the lack of outcry from tribal members. That's what's so disheartening. It makes me wonder how bad it has to get before the people get angry enough to rightfully dress down our leaders.
I'm outraged. For one, I haven't even become aware of this until Don's column. I've suspected that the tribe lost great amounts of money because I knew the committee, with the chief's and Council's approval, invested the children's funds heavily in the highly volatile stock market. However this seems to be par for the course for the current tribal leadership who feels we're better off being kept in the dark. Case in point, Cherokee County/Snowbird Council Rep. Angie Kephart stated to the Cherokee County Community Club last Tuesday, "The economy's been weakened a little bit." This statement was made to folks who live in the county with the fourth highest unemployment rate in the state, a rate of 12.7 percent as of last December, a rate well above the national average.
The other reason we should be outraged is no one was minding the store while a bear's been on the lose. The one's who should be the first to accept responsibility are playing the blame game instead.
Folks we should be outraged. This is your children's money, and the tribe's leadership has allowed it to be managed recklessly. It's very clear that when voters go to the polls, we have to elect leaders who will ensure that the Investment Committee will play a more active roll in investing these funds that will offset potential losses in the stock market and actually make our children money. With a child on the way, it's certainly of great concern to me what happens to these funds. If the current leadership isn't going to take ownership of this problem, then they need to hit the road.

I'm Running For Council Not Against Another Candidate

I've gotten some commentary during my talks with people when I've told individuals in both Snowbird and Cherokee County that I was running. Among the comments I've gotten, from both communities, is "We need to get rid of Angie (Kephart) and Abe (I hear he's not running. His son Adam is supposed to be running in his place)." I understand frustration with the status quo. Also, if things were fine they way they are, I wouldn't have decided to run.
However, I'm running for Tribal Council, not so much against Angie Kephart or against anyone else. I want voters in Cherokee County and Snowbird to vote for me. Whoever else gets their votes is their business. I'm not so arrogant to insist that my potential constituents have to vote in a manner for which I approve. I'm certainly not going to try to monitor the polls to see who votes how, nor will I attempt to punish those who choose to either vote for candidates with whom I disagree or choose not to vote for me, and I will represent my constituents equally. I will not practice selective representation.
Here's why I feel I'm qualified to serve:
* I'm educated. I hold a B.A. in Public Relations from Auburn University. With the challenging and complex issues that confront the tribe, we need a candidate who can handle these issues with wisdom and understanding. Furthermore, I have vast experience dealing with the media, which is of the utmost importance.
* I'm accomplished and experienced. While I've never held public office before, I've worked with the tribe for 11 years. I understand well how tribal government works, and I've proven my abilities to work with every tribal program. That's important when it comes to funding for programs in Cherokee County and Snowbird who've been fighting for scraps for decades.
* I'm ethical. I've been faithfully married to my wife for seven years. I've never been charged with a crime, and I've always conducted my work with the highest of ethical standards in mind. My wife and I are expecting our first child in October, and it's important to me that I set a positive example in this area.
* I was raised with strong Christian, moral values, and will make decisions based upon those values. I attend services at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Murphy where my wife and I are members. The lessons taught from the Bible and what it means to be a Christian not only give me comfort during trying times, they guide me in making tough decisions. I will rely upon my faith in making decisions for the betterment of the tribe.
* I bring an agenda that is right and just for the tribe, accountability, transparency in government and respect for individual liberty. We as tribal members are Americans, and we need elected officials who are going to act like Americans. Too many tribal members have risked and even lost their lives defending the ideals upon which the United States was founded only to have elected officials profane everything for which they sacrificed by trying to squelch dissent, hiding the truth from them and denying them a voice in their government.
I've got no doubt that some voters will be approached about me by some who will argue that they shouldn't vote for me. When approached, it's perfectly appropriate to suggest that instead of why they shouldn't vote for R. Joseph Martin, or anyone else for that matter, ask them why should they vote for whatever candidate they're advocating. If they can't or won't answer, then they don't deserve your time.
While I think you should vote for candidates who represent a positive change for the tribe, I won't get in the business of asking you to not vote for a particular candidate. I represent positive change and balance for tribal government, and that's why I should be elected.

Why Worry About the Executive Retirement Plan

There are some who may ask why we should bother with the executive retirement plan. Another notion is that Council members knew what the intent was. While some will argue that the matter is trivial consider this, and Wolfetown Rep. Susan Toineeta even noted this in her proposal to rescind the plan passed in January, the tribe will be facing some seriously challenging times financially. The situation is worse than many currently in the tribe's leadership are willing to concede. The plan passed in January has the potential to break the tribe, already stretched to the limits on retirement benefits for employees.
The plan passed, as written, does pay Chief Hicks $70,000 per month upon his leaving office, assuming he's done in 2011. That may not have been the intent, and Michell Hicks may only take $70,000 yearly as may have been the intent of the legislation. There are serious problems with relying upon intent. One is no one really knows what that intent was with the exception of the one who authored the proposal. When the law has been on the books for 100 years, no one can ask the attorney general what the intent was, because in all likelihood she'll have died. The other major problem is that it may be the case that this chief would only take $70,000. But that doesn't mean that another chief with the same amount of time vested wouldn't take half the yearly salary per month, and guess what, the way the law is now currently worded, it would be legal.
The tribal Supreme Court ruled on the issue of absentee voting that the way the law was worded was problematic. It was worded to mean that tribal members had to meet every single criteria. Sure we knew what the intent was, but the wording had to match that intent.
Toineeta's proposal is a sensible one, and Tribal Council needs to pass it. This is an important issue. The economic future of the tribe depends upon it.