He Means Business!

Bill John Baker means business.  He told us so, and one of his first orders of business looks to be replacing the Cherokees who run our businesses.   

According to the Cherokee Phoenix, Baker is appointing five new board members, and giving the boot to four folks who are on the board of directors.

The people who Baker does NOT want to run our businesses are:  the former CEO of CITGO, the third largest independent oil refiner in America (David Tippeconic), the executive vice president for financial services for Bancfirst, a bank with $5 billion in assets (Jay Hannah), the top guy at one of the biggest, if not the biggest, commercial real estate company in Tulsa (Mitch Adwon of Adwon Properties) and a financial executive at one of Oklahoma’s only Fortune 500 companies, ONEOK (David Ballew).  All are Cherokee.  All have helped, in some degree, build businesses that now make $90 million a year.

The people Baker wants to replace them are: Tommye Sue Wright, Bob Berry and Michael Watkins, of Tahlequah, as well as Stilwell’s Rex Earl Starr and Brent Taylor from Pryor.  The Cherokee Phoenix sums up their experience:

“A real estate agent with Century 21, Wright manages more than 50 sales agents and support staffers and is responsible for more than $60 million in real estate sales annually...

A graduate of Harvard Business School, Berry is the founder of American Nursery Products and Tri-B Nurseries. His family owns two nurseries and Tahlequah’s Cherry Springs Golf Course... 

Starr is a private practice attorney whose clients include five school districts in Adair and Sequoyah counties...

A graduate of Northeastern State University, Taylor is an entrepreneur who has brokered lease agreements with Jackson Hewitt, Pizza Hut, Covington Finance and Pryor Creek Music Festivals...

Watkins retired earlier this year after eight years as chief financial officer and controller of Park Hill Plants. He is a former vice president of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, now Cherokee Nation Entertainment.”  

All of these people have had good careers.  The Phoenix doesn’t mention it, but we’ll give Baker the benefit of the doubt that they are all Cherokee until we're told otherwise.  And maybe it’s just us, but when you are replacing a guy who has run one of the biggest companies in the world with a guy who’s resume includes lines like ‘brokered lease agreements with Pryor Creek Music Fesitivals,’ or one of the top guys at a $5 billion bank with a guy who does a little legal work for “five schools in Adair and Sequoyah counties” that seems like a downgrade. 

22 Days Until the New Election: Pants on Fire!

Our evening did not go according to plan.  We had a blog ready to go, until we got a phone call and had to write a new blog.  Because if there is one thing you can’t do to us here at Cherokee Truth, its call us up on the phone, act surly, and lie to us.  And that’s what happened tonight.

We got phone call(s) that said, to the best of our note taking ability: “For 12 years Chad Smith has refused to audit the casino’s finances but Bill John Baker will order an independent audit to make sure that casino money goes for services to the Cherokee people and not to line the pockets of campaign contributors and vendors.  I hope that Bill John can earn your vote in the upcoming election.”

As readers of the Cherokee Truth know, this is a lie and worse-- Baker knows it is a lie!  As we showed everyone in May, 53 Days before the June election, the Cherokee Nation and its businesses are audited every year and win awards.  Mr. Baker knows this, because the audit is not only presented to the CNB Board (of which he is an advisory member,Resolution R-52-10) but also the council’s executive and finance committee just a few months ago.

Not only are the audits for the past 10 years available online, but video footage of Baker sitting and listening to the audit being presented is also available online!

The auditor even talks about the special audit of JUST THE CASINOS, which is sent to the feds every year for compliance purposes.

There’s also the Tulsa World story that cites a national rating company for praising Cherokee Nation for its "careful and conservative governmental financial management" and for its "ability to manage cash flow issues." It goes on to tout Cherokee Nation's creation and expansion of non-gaming businesses like health care and information technology. 

To sum up:  The casinos are audited every year.  They win awards for their clean audits.  Baker knows this and lies about it anyway.  Apparently he thinks no one will notice that he’s not telling the TRUTH. He must think we’re all stupid and can’t look up readily accessible public information that shows he’s lying.

We’re sure the Cherokee Nation isn’t perfect, and Baker can certainly point out all the flaws he wants, but if he has to lie to people to create problems with the Cherokee Nation, that says more about him than it does anyone else.

12 Days Until the Election- Guest Blog featuring Chief Chad Smith

Two weeks ago, we asked Baker and Smith to submit a blog, 700 words or less, for our audience. We asked that the blogs be positive and about their candidacy, and pointed out that it would be a way to reach a few hundred Cherokees without having to kill and fry a single hog. Both candidates responded to our email, but only one actually submitted a blog, and his blog will run today.

Those of you who support Baker, we apologize that his campaign chose not to respond, but as we pointed out, no hard feelings.  That being said, here is Smith’s guest blog:

____________________________

I want to begin by saying Wado to Cherokee Truth for allowing me to post a blog on this page and I commend the site for its dedication to providing accurate information to Cherokee voters.

I’m proud to be principal chief of the great Cherokee Nation, because I love the work of building our Nation. I never underestimate our people, our employees or our future because I believe as Redbird Smith said, “We are intelligent, industrious; we are loyal and we are spiritual.” These are important traits to consider when we are on the verge of selecting leadership.

By just about every measure, the Cherokee Nation is better off today than it was 12 years ago.  I will always believe that the very best service we can provide for our people is a job.  We’ve created 5,000 jobs with great benefits that enable our people to take care of their families and contribute to their communities. And Cherokee Nation hiring policy requires that Cherokees be considered first for all jobs.  Look around and ask yourself if more of your friends and family work for the Cherokee Nation and our businesses today than 12 years ago.

While we are proud of our successes in gaming, we know that to provide a secure future for generations of Cherokees, we must work to create a strong and diverse tribal economy.  By operating on a sound fiscal policy that reinvests our gaming profits, we own businesses that provide environmental services, home health care, IT and hospitality services.  Our strong credit rating enables us to receive capital improvement loans at interest rates that save our Nation thousands of dollars.

Our health care system’s budget in 1999 was just $18 million. Now, it’s more than $300 million. When some folks were doubtful about Cherokee Nation assuming operations of W.W. Hastings Hospital, I had faith that our employees could do a great job, and we’ve increased services and put $9 million into additional facilities there.

Our housing program went from putting 23 families in houses each year to putting more than 200 families in houses each year. I believe our housing employees do an amazing job and we receive thank you notes and compliments on their work daily.  

Under my leadership and thanks to our staff, the CN has received national awards nine years in a row for its finance system and audits. I proposed the Nation’s first Freedom of Information Act, Open Records Act and Free Press Act.  I strongly believe in the need for our government to be both transparent and accountable which is why our budget is posted online and Annual Reports are delivered each year to Cherokee citizens, both on our government budget and on the division of casino profits.

I’ve disagreed with our highest court, but always respected their decisions and their position as a third and equal branch of government.   It is my sworn obligation and my constitutional duty to both follow the law and to defend adamantly the Cherokee people’s right to their own constitutional process.

I have increased our overall budget for services from less than $150 million to $600 million, in part because of our efforts in Washington, D.C.  Education will continue to be one of my highest priorities.  During the past ten years, the Nation has provided more than 23,000 students scholarships for higher education and assisted thousands more through vocational training grants.

I could go on talking about the great things our employees have done and how far we’ve come, but if you’ve been around here, you see it. Still, I know there is a much more we can accomplish and I am running for re-election to continue building and improving the Cherokee Nation.  Recently, President Obama said, “We should live up to the expectations of our children.”  As Cherokees, I believe we must look to the future in even broader terms.  Our children and theirs and theirs.  Your response to this call will ensure that the Cherokee Nation will continue to be stronger than ever, passing on our great legacy to those who come after.

Wado,

Chief Chad Smith

42 Days Until the Election- Debate Blow by Blow

Tonight, Principal Chief Chad Smith and Bill John Baker went mano-a-mano at The Cherkee Phoenix Debate. 

Cherokee Truth will just jump right in with a little analysis and as much truth as we can cram into one blog.

Councilor Bill John Baker
Photo credit Cherokee Phoenix

Principal Chief Chad Smith
 Photo credit Cherokee Phoenix 

In the opening statements, Smith basically said the Cherokee Nation is the best thing since fire.  Baker basically said the Cherokee Nation is going to h**l in a handbasket and/or private plane.    Baker lit into Smith pretty hard, and Smith was given a chance to respond.  He did so by saying he didn’t think the Cherokee people wanted to hear a lot of negative talk and declined to discuss it further.

The first question was about their top priorities as Chief.  Smith talked about his vision for the Nation as a happy healthy people, creating jobs and self-reliance.  Baker talked about how much money the Nation has but isn’t spending on housing and health care, but if he were Chief the Nation would. 

The second question was about water rights.  Baker said, basically, he didn’t know much about it, but he’d hire the best lawyers we can to do this because it’s as important as oil to the Osages.  Smith said he did know a lot about it, and that under his watch the Nation actually won a court case saying we had water rights, and that whatever water rights the state thinks they have, the Cherokee Nation actually has.

The third question was what is the greatest political mistake they ever made.  Smith got some pretty hearty laughs by saying his was getting his picture taken with former U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, then moved on to talking about increasing health care budgets.  Baker didn’t really answer the question either, just saying we all make mistakes and everyone could do better. 

On the fourth question, things got a little weird.  They asked about CNB buying a business in Colorado. Baker responded first by saying CNB is all screwed up, they have bad policies and that the council should be in control of the purse.  Then he lit into Chief Smith’s claim of creating 5000 new jobs.  Instead, Baker claimed the Nation actually lost 1000 jobs during Chief Smith's administration. 

The Cherokee Truth about had a milk-through-the nose moment there… We’re not sure how many more jobs are at Cherokee Nation now than before, but it’s sure as heck is NOT 1000 less!

Smith said that smart people at Harvard say that tribes do well in business when they have a separate board running the businesses, not the Tribal Council, saying that CNE, for example, used to have 500 employees and make $3 million a year and now they have 3,500 employees and make a ton more.  On the claim that the Nation has 1000 fewer jobs than before, Smith said he ‘challenged the mathematics’ of that. 

Question 5:  Basically, what’s the best way to provide housing for Cherokees?  Fortunately on this one, we have a Cherokee Phoenix  truth report (pg 10) that sorts it all out.   Basically, the truth on this is that yes, under the old system, there was a 50 year plus waiting list and yes, under the new system the Nation is helping tons more people.  But, it also says that Baker might be right about money at the housing authority that could be spent on additional programs.

The sixth question was about term limits for the Council and for the Chief and Deputy Chief.  Baker went first and said he was in favor of term limits for the Chief (just like the state and feds have for their top executive) but not for Council.   He said there is too much power at the top.  Smith said he didn’t think the argument was about too much power, but that Baker didn’t have the power and wanted it.  He said the Cherokee people went 70 years without being able to elect their own Chiefs after statehood, and we shouldn’t hamstring the power of the people to decide who they want on the council or as chief.

Question 7:  A question asking the candidates if CNB should release things like purchase prices or lease agreements when they buy businesses.  Both candidates agreed CNB should do so…. Smith by saying rather briefly that he’d already instructed CNB to do that in the future, and Baker saying that basically the Cherokee people are the shareholders and had the right to know just as much as IBM’s shareholders have a right to know these things.

On the last question, things got a little tense again.  The question was about the pay raise that is set to go into effect for elected officials of the Cherokee Nation starting next term.  Baker said it was wrong and the Chief should have vetoed it, especially since we are having budget cuts for services.  Smith said it was a non-political process and while he didn’t agree with the amount of the raise, he respected the process and the will of the council.  He pointed out that he, Smith, was the only candidate to say he would reject the raise, and that even though Baker had asked the council to turn down the raise, he never actually said he would reject the raise himself.  He said Baker had taken a $6000 backdoor raise for travel expenses this past year, and challenged him to turn down the raise for Chief or council (since even if Baker loses, he’ll stay on the council).    Baker did not directly answer whether he would or would not take the raise, so on Smith’s final rebuttal, Smith pointed out that Baker still had not declined the raise.  At that point, the moderator gave Baker a third chance to speak on the issue, but Baker again did not turn down the raise, though he said he’s never been in it for the money.

Oh yeah, another big moment, and I can’t remember which question it was a part of, was when Baker was going off about the private plane again and how no one can get their hands on the flight logs.  Then Smith walked over and handed Baker the logs and told him what Cherokee Truth said 8 days ago: JUST ASK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LOGS AND THEY WILL PROBABLY GIVE THEM TO YOU!  I’m sure we’ll hear more about those logs in the coming days.  In the meantime, maybe all the candidates will start following our wise advice! 

Finally, they had the closing arguments, which were just like what we heard at the top.  Smith told a story about kids speaking Cherokee to him in the new Sequoyah gym.  Baker talked about the plane and travel records, even though he already had them now.    He promised to sell the Cherokee Nation plane on Day 1 when he is chief. 

There is not a link to watch online yet, and it’s not our place to say who ‘won’ or who ‘lost.’  But at the end, one candidate looked about 2.5 seconds away from throwing a hissy fit, and the other one looked relaxed. 

Sorry this is going up so late, but as you can see, it’s really (too) long and took a while to put together.  

50 Days Until the Election-Just Plane Nonsense

In recent days, the Baker campaign has gone on the offensive, attacking Smith for the Cherokee Nation having an airplane.

Smith says the Nation has had a plane for decades, and it’s nothing new. 

Baker says Smith won’t release flight logs.  Smith says they aren’t his records, but CNE’s and the council already has them. 

Enough already.

The Cherokee Nation does, indeed, have a Freedom of Information Act. Read it for yourself here.

One or both of these candidates could simply follow existing law instead of throwing accusations around.  If Baker has filed an actual request, he should demonstrate that he asked CNE for the records.  Once an actual request has been filed, there are 15 days for the ‘corporate body’ (CNE) to produce the records.  If they don’t, THEN someone truly is ‘refusing’ to release documents.  Until then, it’s just a bunch of political nonsense.

If Baker has not formally requested the documents, then Smith could go ahead and formally request it, because CNE has the records and he doesn’t.  That would be very transparent. 

Regardless, someone should hurry up and do it already, so we can move on and start talking about things that Cherokees actually care about-- like health care, jobs and education.  It only takes 15 days, max, to get to the truth, if anyone actually cares about that.