Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: New Cherokee chief

Thursday, July 29, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

LAST WEEK I spent four days in and around Cave Springs, Westville, Marble City and Stilwell. If you aren't from Oklahoma there's a better-than-even chance you still don't know where I was during that period of time. I can tell you that it's one of the most beautiful spots on Earth despite a heat wave and high humidity. In addition to the natural beauty, there are 30-pound catfish in the Illinois River and deer, wild turkey and elk in the Cookson hills.

Even more impressive than the surroundings were the people who live in northeastern Oklahoma. From the time that Justin, my grandson, and I picked up our car at Muskogee on Thursday, until we returned it on Sunday, we met and talked to not one unfriendly person. Even more important was their willingness to accept two outsiders and take time to visit with us. A fella just doesn't stay on the outside very long in that area.

Ambassador Gordon Streeb, an associate executive director of the Carter Center, had asked us to be among the 11-member team to observe the run-off election for the Cherokee Nation. The Carter Center had answered the request for observation of the primary election in May. Because of the closeness of the vote the positions of principal chief, principal deputy chief and two of the 15 seats of the Tribal Council were to be decided last Saturday.

Our first night spent in Tahlequah, the headquarters for the Cherokee Nation, the political campaign advertisements on television were shocking. I've been around more than a few political campaigns both here at home and in other nations but hadn't seen anything as brutal as an ad paid for by the incumbent.

The incumbent, Chief Joe Byrd, hit challenger Chad "Corntassel" Smith with everything but the kitchen sink. Despite these personal attacks, Smith and his running mate, Hasting Shade, won by landslides. The winner received the strong support of popular former chiefs Wilma Mankiller and Ross Swimmer. Listening to the voters it became apparent on election day they were concerned about four years of political turmoil they had experienced during Byrd's first term.

The Cherokee Nation elections are important to Oklahoma and to Cherokees living in several other states. The campaigns and results were on the front pages of all the newspapers including the Tulsa World and the Muskogee Daily Phoenix. The Phoenix, a Gannett newspaper, went as far as editorializing against Byrd. The editors wrote, "Because the well-being of the Cherokee Nation is integral to the state's well-being, all Oklahomans should be deeply concerned about the election result.

"The choice is clear. Cherokee voters who care about their nation's and their children's future have no choice but to turn to Sapulpa lawyer Chad Smith for new leadership."

In a Phoenix newspaper interview with both candidates the question of placing a casino on the Arkansas River was brought up. Byrd answered, "The tribal council would have to approve it. We had a close margin of vote to even get into bingo." Smith came down strong against casinos when replying, "I'm against Class 3 gaming (casinos). It's a short fix to a long-range problem. We need careers for people, not temporary service jobs. The only way we can get the career jobs is to bring in high-tech jobs with hard work, good planning and cooperation with local governments."

The Cherokee Nation had a most exciting run-off campaign that was concluded with a professional and fair election. When lifting off from Muskogee Sunday morning we felt privileged to have participated in the observation of the Cherokee election. Just as important was the opportunity to experience the warmth and kindness of all the people living in our Trail of Tears voting district.

The next time we go to the Cherokee Nation we are taking our fishing poles and will spend some more time with good people.