Dr. Rennard Strickland
NSU alumnus; Dean and Philip H. Knight Professor of Law Dedicated to the Cherokee Nation and our people for more than two decades, Principal Chief Chad Smith is one of the most qualified leaders we have today. Aside from the fact that he holds a Juris Doctorate, a MBA and a BS in Education, perhaps even more importantly Chad's qualifications include a deeply-rooted sincere dedication and sense of responsibility for the legacy our Cherokee ancestors have passed down generation after generation. That legacy is the culture, language, values and sovereignty of the great Cherokee Nation. In the l999 campaign, Chief Smith had a clear agenda of items he wanted to accomplish in his first term. He has remained focused on his goals and accomplished an incredible amount of important work, including settling a 35-year old Arkansas Riverbed case and restoring peace and stability to the Cherokee Nation. He also established a free press, expanded tribal enterprises, dramatically increased the number of homes being built for low and moderate income Cherokee people and has stimulated a Cherokee cultural renaissance through initiatives like the Cherokee history and language courses and the highly acclaimed Cherokee Children?s Choir. A respected Cherokee elder, Judge Fourkiller, once said that a man?s word is sacred. Keeping one?s word is a personal characteristic many traditional Cherokee people admire the most. Whether you always agree with Chief Smith or not, you can count on him to keep his word and do exactly what he says he will do. As an attorney and a student of Cherokee history, Chief Smith understands the importance of protecting tribal sovereignty and lands. He has repeatedly demonstrated that sovereignty is not just an abstract legal concept. It protects and serves the people and requires the active participation of an educated, healthy populace with access to a good education and decent jobs. If you would like to help the Cherokee Nation continue to move forward in a positive way, please join me and many others in making a contribution to help re-elect Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. Respectfully,
Rennard Strickland
Cherokee Tribal Councilman Jackie Bob Martin
District 2 - Trail of Tears (Adair County) "Chad Smith has superior leadership skills which really shine when the Council and Chief are working under pressure and deadlines. He respects different people's viewpoints and he offers good ideas for solving problems. I think his knowledge of law is helpful because it helps us to stay in federal compliance without giving up more than we have to. In this last 3 years we have managed to go from a somewhat disorganized condition to a restoration of good information and responsiblity, and I believe that Chad Smith has been the heart of that. I think he is doing a fine job and I'm glad to have him for our Chief." Jackie Bob Martin
Cherokee Tribal Councilman Don Garvin
District 4 - Three Rivers (McIntosh/Muskogee/Wagoner Counties) "Chad works around the clock to improve the Cherokee Nation, always planning for the near future and for the long term. He has shown that he is a great leader." Don Garvin
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