Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Statements from the Candidates for Principal Chief

Statement from Bill John Baker
The Cherokee people have spoken and I am humbled and honored to be selected to lead our great nation the next four years. This has been a difficult and tough campaign for everyone but the campaign is behind us. The sharp words and differences ended the second the last ballot was counted. I want to congratulate Chief Smith and his team on a hard fought effort. And now I ask them and all of Chief Smith's supporters to join me to bring our Nation together.

I've said the entire campaign that we all came from one fire. We are family. Being Cherokee is who you are, not where you are. From Tampa to Tahlequah and San Francisco to Sallisaw we are one Cherokee Nation.

Only together can we take our Nation from good to Great. There is no time to fight each other when we must fight poverty, fight hunger, fight for better schools, fight for our elders. There is plenty to do and taking on each other even for one more minute is not something we can afford to continue.

There will be many announcements over the next few weeks. I plan to build a world-class team of leaders to help run our Nation and we will begin putting together that team immediately. I need your suggestions and I need your help and I ask for your prayers.

Again, I am humbled and honored and I promise you - each and every one of you - that I will be the best Chief possible every minute of every day.

Wado

God Bless you

God Bless the Cherokee Nation
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Statement from Chad Smith
I’m disappointed not just for myself, but also for the people who worked so hard on this campaign, and the thousands upon thousands of Cherokees who supported this campaign and what we stand for. The Cherokee Nation faces a lot of difficult decisions in the near future, and I will always support the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation.

We will still await the word from the election commission on a certified count, and we’re aware of all the irregularities that came about because our government agreed to change the election rules even after election day. We will know more once things settle out.

I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the Cherokee people and to our staff who worked so hard to build the Cherokee Nation from the chaos when I took office in 1999. I have worked hard these many years and am grateful for each day I represented our Nation so far.
copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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