Tribal Members seem to be neglected and kept in the dark - (except around election time) - on issues of importance, issues that a Representative government should inform the members and seek their input. You should have a right to know these affairs of your Tribe. The use of privileged and confidential communications or executive sessions should only be allowed for personnel matters, not general tribal business, including finances and policy. There is a danger of our Tribal Government becoming more like a Dictatorship rather than a Republic...unless you make it a personal priority to let your voice be heard..

To insure Honest, Fair, Respectful, and Responsible Tribal Government – it is critical that an annual financial disclosure report be published and mailed to all Tribal Members of legal age.  Such a financial report must list payments of any kind to anyone holding a position of leadership, including Tribal Council, Board members, Commission members, Authority members and Executive Level Positions in Tribal Government and in Tribal Enterprises. This degree of ‘financial openness’ is an important change that I believe is necessary to bring accountability for the tribal resources being used now or obligated on the future generations and to hold Tribal Leaders and officials responsible for their decisions.

Did you know the election procedures have been changed? Did you know the Council created an Ethics committee and Ethics Code? Did you know that a group of five (5) gaming board members, along with CIE management are actively pursuing hundreds of millions of dollars of debt, maybe as much as $600 Million Dollars, putting the tribe into major debt for years to come and yet there are NO gaurantees of future income to repay the debt. Do you know about the ongoing conflicts of interest in which board members receive contracts in which they also are personally involved in the bidding company, thereby benefiting financially from the selection of who does business with the Tribe? Are open meetings held seeking tribal member input on these and other matters of importance? "I urge you to stand with your fellow tribal members now, and call for a Constitutional Convention that will address these issues premanently and provide a Tribal Member BILL OF RIGHTS"!.

Thank you for voting "YES" on the resolution for the Tribal Council to ("explore"?) a direct election of tribal officers. It is very important that you have the opportunity to vote directly for the chief/chairman, assistant chief/vice chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. I am not sure why the Tribal Council asked for permission to "explore" this matter, but many problems have been experienced over many years because only the Tribal Council has had the power to elect these officers. Perhaps the only way some chief want-to-be's could  become chief is if 5 votes of fellow council members gives them the position, rather than face all the people in a direct election. We each should be able to exercise the right to vote directly for the Chief and officers of our Tribe.Think about it, as few as FIVE (5) Tribal Council members have been able to decide who the chief and officers are, when you should have that right and responsbility. People desiring these officer position should have to declare and run for the office before all the Tribal Members, rather than a few of the Tribal Council.

Thank you for electing me to our Tribal Council! I will help draft and introduce legislation to:

1. Work with tribal members to draft a Bill Of Rights ammendment and call for a Constitutional Convention.
2. Establish a debt limit so that any attempt to collateralize or leverage tribal assets above the agreed debt limit would require a vote of the people.
3. Place a ballot vote on the repeal of the 2006 ‘constitutional amendment’ which effectively eliminated previous checks and balances of the Tribal Council.
4. Place a ballot vote on the establishment of a ‘Notice of Proposed Rule Making’ requirement on the Tribal Council so that at least 30 days notice must be given to Tribal Members prior to a Council meeting vote on new legislation.
5. Require that all matters of finance, policy, ordinances, or any matter not directly involving the name or character of individuals, be discussed in open sessions of the Tribal Council, not behind closed doors in executive session.
6. Prohibit the use of priviledged and confidential communications except in the case of personnel matters directly involving the name and character of personnel. 
7. Prohibit any attempt by the tribe to gather personal financial data from any tribal member other than those individuals seeking a housing loan or rental, or business loans.
8. Require the Tribe to join a National Group Health Insurance plan that will provide health coverage for all tribal members and provide an option to insure their families at cost.
9. Limit the amount of donations made by our tribe or enterprises. 
10. Require that educational opportunities are available to every tribal member, young or old, whether actively enrolled in an educational or vocational program or paying off student loans.
11. Require that employment within Tribal Government or Tribal Enterprises be properly described, noticed, fair selection for interviews, and Indian Preference must become the rule…not the exception.
12. Require that business opportunities with the Tribe be targeted to all Tribal Member Owned Businesses, with preference granted in bidding on products and services for both Tribal Government and Tribal Enterprises.
13. Establish a Tribal Bid Policy that mandates sealed bid specifications for contracts, the public opening of sealed bids, and a stipulation that low bidders who seek a change of work increase after the bid award - must face a formal re-bid. 
14. Require that the Tribal Ethics Board be selected by general vote of the Tribal Membership – not by the very Tribal Council that the Ethics Board must scrutinize.
15. Require that all Board, Committee, and Authority Positions, including the Tribal Council, must have term limits. Lifetime appointments must never be permitted in the Tribal Government Positions or the Tribal Enterprise System.
16. Introduce a Constitutional Amendment to create the Executive Branch with a President / Tribal Chief. The Tribal Council - the Legislative Branch, would continue to have the officers of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, each directly elected by the Tribal Members in staggered three year terms, with the five remaining council positions selected at large or by districting based on equal representation of all Tribal Members.
17. Introduce a Constitutional Amendment to prevent more than one immediate family member from serving on the Tribal Council at the same time. Immediate family member being defined as a father, mother, daughter, son, sister or brother.
18. Place a ballot vote to revise the charter of Creek Indian Enterprises providing for the election of CIE board members.

I hope to meet with each of you and discuss my sincere passion to bring Honest, Fair, Respectful, And Responsible Representation to your Tribal Council! We can change business as usual if we roll up our sleeves, stand together and work for A Better Tribe!  Please know that I will listen to your concerns and suggestions. I will work to insure that tribal members feel welcomed and at home when you attend a Tribal Council or any other Tribal Board, Committee, or Authority meeting.        

I am the son of Martin and Vernie Lee Barnhill Gehman, grandson of the late Petro and Ruby Lee McGhee Barnhill, great grandson of Len and Hettie Colbert McGhee. My wife Shyrell and I have four children: Stephanie, Emily, Kristen and Stephen. We reside near Atmore. I hold a B.S.B.A. Management Degree from Auburn University, Montgomery, and the A.S. Degree, Jefferson Davis Jr. College. I presently serve as Chief Pilot, Gulf Coast division of Yates Construction. I previously served on the Tribal Council from 1995 – 2001.

My commitment to you; “I will work tirelessly for Honest, Fair, Respectful and Responsible Tribal Government.” Please  become involved, and help shape your Tribal Government – we owe it to our Ancestors, our Elders and our Future Generations!

Azaleas recently in full bloom...Beautiful!

My soul knows all my secrets---my soul tells no lie.

Proverbs 13:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation"....