The 2020 Osage Elections are in full swing. Despite the pandemic, fifteen candidates participated in a debate, which took place online for the first time, on April 25.
The Osage News Editorial Board sponsored the debate and Sterling Cosper, programs director for the Native American Journalist Association, moderated. The candidates talked about economic development and their response to the ongoing pandemic.
KOSU's Allison Herrera spoke with Osage News editor Shannon Shaw Duty about what's at stake for the nation during this election season.
Allison Herrera: Can you tell me who is running and what seats are they running for?
Shannon Shaw Duty: Running for the 7th Osage Nation Congress is Michael Bristow, Melissa Goodfox Dailey, Shannon Edwards, Colt Herren, Billy Keene, Michael Kidder, John Maker, Mary Jo Pratt, Amanda Proctor, Jodie Revard, Pam Shaw, Joe Tillman, Jim Trumbly, R.J. Walker and Maria Whitehorn.
Five are incumbents and 10 are running for the first time. There are six seats available. Our longtime congressman Archie Mason has officially retired. He won't be running again.
AH: What's at stake in this election?
SSD: What's at stake is six seats for the 7th Osage Nation Congress. If you are wanting to serve the Osage nation, this would be the time because you're going to be leading the nation through this pandemic and probably one of our biggest financial crises since the start of our new government.
AH: What have the candidates said about how they will lead the nation out of a financial crisis? There's also the health needs of your citizens.
SSD: Currently, we are experiencing a revenue shortfall, a major shortfall, because our casinos are closed. This pandemic has really shown that this is the only business income that we have. Many attempts for many years, the nation has tried to diversify businesses through our LLC’s. But for one reason or another, the system isn't working. They all had messages that they wanted to diversify business. They all gave examples of different types of business. they felt the nation could have. This will really put them to the test-whoever is elected for building this infrastructure and the legal foundation for new business.
We don't have any confirmed cases of Osage Nation citizens being sick with COVID-19. But, a lot of discussion was held about listening to our health experts. Just the other day, it was announced that the Osage Nation is going to reopen on May 11th and all of the nearly 500 employees will be tested. It's mandatory that they be tested before they go back to work. So that was one of the themes that the candidates talked about- whether testing is good or not. They talked about appropriations to help out the clinic, to help out financial assistance in case anyone, you know, needs money during this time. Most of the nation’s employees have not lost their jobs and have not been laid off. But, there are tribal members that don't work for the nation and are experiencing financial troubles. So, they talked about appropriating more money for that and our burial assistance. You know, God forbid that a spike happens or a surge happens and impacts our Osage community in a severe way like we're seeing in other states. so they talked about increasing that burial assistance for our tribal members, which would be during the hardest times of their lives.
AH: I know the Osage Nation is not part of the gaming compact lawsuit. I'm just wondering if any candidates spoke about how the outcome of that lawsuit might affect Osage gaming.
SSD: The underlying message that I picked up from covering the debate was that everyone wanted to make sure that we stayed united. That we approached it on a collective front with the other tribes that are going to be battling Governor Stitt. They're going to listen to their legal counsel. They're going to listen to other tribes. They're going to try and come together and seek the best outcome for all the tribes.
AH: Shannon Shaw Duty, thank you so much for talking with me today.
SSD: Thank you very much.
To read more about the recent Osage News Candidate Debates,click here or watch the debates in full below.
