February 3, 2003

TAHLEQUAH— Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chadwick "Corntassel" Smith and his running mate Joe Grayson, Jr. wasted no time in filing for the Cherokee Nation's 2003 elections. Early on the first morning of the filing period, Smith and Grayson expressed their desire to serve the Cherokee people.

"I am going to run on my record," Smith said. "Over the past four years, we have seen a return to peace in the Cherokee Nation. We now have a calm, accountable government. We have seen renewed pride in our culture, language and government. We have seen progress in housing, health care and jobs. That is our theme for this year's campaign: Peace, Pride and Progress."

Joe Grayson, a full-blood Cherokee, decorated war veteran and son of former Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member Joe Grayson, Sr., is running for Cherokee Nation public office for the first time.

"I like what I’ve seen the last four years at the Cherokee Nation," Grayson said. "The Cherokee language is very important to me, and the success of the Cherokee Nation Youth Choir and Cherokee language immersion classes show that the Cherokee language can survive for generations to come. I am also proud that the Cherokee Nation now has a veteran's affairs office. As a veteran, I plan to be a strong advocate on behalf of our Cherokee veterans. I want to be part of the success.

"The Cherokee Nation is better off now than we were four years ago," Smith said. "In the past year, we have brought in an additional $50 million in housing funding, opened new health care clinics in Bartlesville and Vinita, expanded the clinic in Salina and opened a larger clinic in Muskogee. We have showed our sovereignty by issuing car tags for the first time and we have showed our interest in the education of our Cherokee children by making sure that we put those revenues back into the public schools they attend. This year, that total was more than $1.2 million. The Cherokee Nation also spent $1 million to fund fitness centers to combat diabetes in our Cherokee communities."

Grayson said, "I supported another candidate in the last election. But my candidacy is an example of how Chief Smith has handled his administration. He doesn't hold grudges, works to include everyone and find areas of agreement. That's the only way to make progress, and the Cherokee Nation has made a lot of progress in the last four years."

For more information visit the campaign websites at: www.chadsmith.com and www.joegrayson.com