Platform

Thank you so much for the trust you placed in me three years ago when tribal voters elected me to represent them and their families on the Tribal Council.   Now I am asking for your vote and active support so that I may continue serving you as Secretary of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Having the opportunity to serve the members of our tribal family has truly been one of the highest honors of my life, a privilege that I have never taken for granted.  There has never been a time in the history of our tribe where the future looks brighter, but we must always remember that our strength lies in our faith, our families and our traditions.      

Improving and increasing services to our tribal members has been and will continue to be my focus for serving you. Consider the remarkable progress that has been accomplished:  

·       Health Insurance is now available for all uninsured tribal members ...no matter where they live.

·       The Health Department will soon have an additional physician on staff providing more appointment opportunities.

·       Tribal Health Reimbursement Cards are coming. Tribal Members not currently participating in the Tribal Health Insurance Plan will soon receive a Tribal Health Reimbursement Card that can be used to pay doctor visits, co-pays, pharmacy co-pays and qualified medical supplies. This is a $50 per month benefit that will be accepted at locations across the U.S.

·       The first Annual Tribal Report including the Tribal Financial Report was sent to you this year.

·       Tribal debt is being paid down faster than expected due to strong revenues from PCI Gaming. Hopefully if the present success continues, we can eliminate the entire debt and once again be debt free.

·       Birthday checks have grown and everyone also received a Christmas check.

·       Housing opportunities are expanding with the purchase of land in Monroe County, Alabama and in Escambia County, Florida.

·       Tribal Employment Rights Organization (TERO) is now available to protect Tribal Member employment and business contracting rights within the Tribe and its enterprises.

·       Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve has been significantly improved. There are many recreational opportunities now available while we protect our most basic natural resource.

·       Direct election of tribal officers is now your privilege. Last year you elected the Vice-Chairman, this year you will elect the Secretary and Treasurer. Lord willing next year you will elect the Chairman. These are in addition to the at-large council seats.

·       There will be a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot this year, that if Tribal Members vote to approve, will require Public notice and community meetings when the Tribal Council considers offering Constitutional Amendments. Knowledge is power and this is a step toward making Tribal Council actions more transparent.

With the amazing success we have enjoyed, it is more important now than ever for our Tribal Leaders to clearly define our future goals and actions that must be accomplished by our Tribal Leadership and our Tribal Members in order for those goals to be realized. Tribal Master planning will be completed soon.  The results of your suggestions and input along with the work of our professional planners will create a new vision for a  “place called Poarch”.   As we grow our community we will have a plan that will guide us in our efforts to be one of the best communities in our State. 

I am asking for  your Vote and your active Support so that I can continue to work for you with a focus on:

HEATHCARE:      

·       Conduct the feasibility study for a full-time nursing care center, an assisted living center, and provide Senior day care services.

·       Home Health services for Seniors...no matter where they live.      

·       Health Benefits for all Tribal Members no matter where they live.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

When it comes to investing tribal moneys into economic development projects, I will continue to insist that any tribally funded developments either provide jobs for tribal members, or provide a needed service to tribal members or generate income that can be used to improve services for tribal members.  We must continue to develop our gaming business but at the same time diversify our economic development to create more jobs and opportunity.  Let us recruit the next car manufacturing plant and build it here on Tribal land. Let us return textile manufacturing that has been lost overseas and compete globally from Poarch, Alabama. Let the Poarch Creek Indians lead the way in generating clean power and create jobs and income.

GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY

Over the past three years, I have supported more openness or transparency in the actions of the Tribal Council. I will lead support for A Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) policy that would require community meetings are held and proposed ordinances published within a 60 day period prior to Tribal Council voting an Ordinance into law. This is especially important when proposals involve significant debt, whether by Resolution or Ordinance.

TRIBAL CONTRACTING

We must insure that contracting opportunities for tribal member businesses are fair and the Request For Qualifications (RFQ’s), Request For Proposals (RFP’s), Bidding, Awarding, and Performance process is open and transparent.

EDUCATION:

Expanding educational opportunities for all Tribal Members and offering economic incentives for our citizens to return home will improve the quality of life for us all. 

I support the ongoing educational feasibility study to determine if it is in the best interest of our children to have a tribal school system where we can encourage our children to be the best that they can be while learning about their proud heritage and unique culture. We must continue to support the scholarship trust fund and insure education benefits for all tribal members at all ages.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

We must always remember that we stand on the shoulders of all those brave Creek men and women who laid the foundation for our lives, but did not live to see their dreams come true.  We must not forget their sacrifices and struggles through hard times.  And while our journey will never be over, the pathway is made easier because of the brave Poarch Creeks who walked before us. God help us that future generations will say the same of this generation.      

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.

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 continue 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.  

We are a decent community of hard working men and women that love our country and our tribe.  And with the right leadership we can grow stronger and more prosperous each year. I ask for your Vote and support to be part of that leadership, PLEASE VOTE DAVID GEHMAN, SECRETARY Poarch Band of Creek Indians. 

You as a Tribal Member can play a special part in our future - take full advantage of the life God has given you and become involved!  Freedom is not free, someone pays for it. Pray often for our military men and women. Help one another, trust in yourselves and never lose faith in God.

With the help of God and our people, we will build A Better Tribe, a place we can all call home, a place called “Poarch”.  “It is your birthright to be free and dream big dreams. It is up to us as a Tribe to rise up and reclaim our rightful place in the larger community as honest hardworking and decent Americans who love this country."

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"....