Letter to the Editor

Who wants to be Chair?

"The top elected spot in the Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe is up for grabs.  The question is who wants to be chairperson. Rumor has it that there is already a petition in the works to oust the new chair.  The Prairie Band hasn’t had a chair last a full term in quite awhile. Perhaps as an incentive, a bonus can be paid for lasting a certain amount of time. It could be paid in increments so that if someone lasts four years, they would be rewarded for time served.

Friday is the last day to sign up to run. A cat and mouse game is being played by some. They are waiting until the last minute to sign up. This allows time to size up the competition. The old who else is running, and how would I stack up against them. Fact is anyone has a chance to win. The recycled politicians are foaming at the mouth for another chance to be elected. If you run enough times, sooner or later you will be elected. maybe this time a fresh face will steal the election. Someone new may have a better chance. Some tend to vote for the lesser of the evils. It is not a question of the best qualified for some, it is who will hurt us the least. 

Instead of an election, maybe there should be a series of Herculean tasks to perform. This would reveal the tenacity needed to remain in the position. The first labor would be to chair a general council meeting. Then have various members of the audience hurl insults at them for a few hours. The more irrelevant the better, like yo momma so fat that…..

The ones that pass this test then can move on to the next challenge. Have them flash a show of money. This could be in the form of a new car, fixing up the house or traveling. See how they hold up to public scrutiny. If they can’t handle criticism for spending money, they can’t hack it. Everyone complains about money.

Instead of seeking the golden fleece, have the candidates find an new business enterprise for the tribe. One that doesn’t involve gaming. Sooner or later this will dry up. The business must make a profit, most of our businesses don’t. Operate it like a business and not a bureaucracy. If it only feeds itself, it is not a business.

On to the next labor. Have some disgruntled tribal members show up and demand to have their way or else a petition drive will be started. Charges don’t have to be true, just made. The ones that cave in to pressure can not advance to the next task.

The next one is perhaps one of the toughest tests. Tell the candidates that they have unlimited power. See if they can remain humble, or if their egos swell.  Many of our past leaders have failed this test. Their heads got so big after they got into office, that their hats wouldn’t fit anymore.  A title doesn’t give anyone power. Nor does it command respect. That has to come from the individual.

It is unlikely that such a series of tests would determine our next leader. Being elected won’t either. Unhappy losers can undo the elective process because they want another shot at running again. Especially if they just can't seem to get elected. They won’t accept that the people don’t want them in office.

Good luck to the next chairperson of the Prairie Band. We wish them well. And sincerely  hope that they can unite our people instead of drive them further apart.  It is very unlikely that they will please everyone. That is the nature of our people. No one can please everyone. We just hope that we can elect someone that will help the tribe and not hinder it. We need capable leaders for our people. Leaders lead. We want good leadership.

Lets hope that voters make a good choice. Examine each candidate. If they haven’t done anything in the past to help us, should we elect them again?  Just because someone is new, doesn’t mean that they can’t help us. Let’s hope that more candidates are willing to step forward to give us more choices to vote for. And we should support the people’s choice. If they were elected, that means more people wanted them instead of the other candidates. Let the vote stand. Whether we like them or not, we should support who was voted in."

-A PBPN tribal member

Comments

[joe]

Tests won't help any of them if they just don't show up to work. Accountability Progam should go on next tribal member meeting agenda for us to vote on!!!

[Bill]

I agree with Joe, there should be an Accountability Program for the Tribal Council, or they will never go to work!

[concern member]

I think all tribal council members should have to present to the general council an log of all activities during each month. Most companies have their employees that receive an expense account must keep a log. This way we would know when they where in the office and what meetings they had that took them out of the office. It would also show vacation and sike leave. This should be public information to the General Council. This would ease alot of questions and complaining at the General Council.

[Another Concerned PBPN Member]

It's very good of you Larry, to dedicate a page for Campaign Statements. With the "tribal paper" only coming out once in a while and being subject to review of the Tribal Council...it can be stated here for people to see...uncensored. Thanks again!

The wonders of the internet...being able to hide behind a name and let it go with ones thoughts on this, that and the other thing. Bear in miind that on here anything is possible, just type it and send it. Easier said than done.

The PBPN race for Chairman really shouldn't have too much significance as far as things on the Tribal Council goes. In order for the Chairperson to be an effective leader he or she has to know the people, from a stand point of knowing what it is that the people have to endure to live here.

Also a general feeling of those Tribal Council members in being dedicated to do for the peoples sake, our children's and our children's children. The other members should be supportive of a Chairperson that is all about being fair, conduct a meeting in a diplomatic but professional manner. If the rest of the Tribal Council see this person straying from his constitutional or moral duties they are the ones that should be making those correction there. The Chairperson should set a good example of how the Tribal Council should conduct themselves each and every work day. Keeping track of them at work everyday to insure that they come to work. We shouldn't have to be concerned with those kinds of details. AND...when we do get concerned, it's proof that the Chairperson isn't doing his job.

Even though it would be kind of splitting the tribe apart...it's a good thing! I feel that the PBPN should do as most other tribes do, in that the candidates has to be a resident of the reservation to run for Tribal Council. In their codes is stated the required time for a person to be a resident. What the hell are we doing operating the way we do. Even the white man does it the way most tribe are doing it. You can't be a resident of Oklahoma and run for Governnor of the state of Kansas. Better wake up people!!!

The reason the tribe is a tribe is because of the land here on the reservation, the residence member and tribal individual land owners that made it what it is in status. Without that there is no tribe...only in name.

Thank you, whomever you are...for the beginning comment that started this. Very well put together comment. Also, thanks to Larry for the opportunity to put my two cents in.

George