March 19, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Principal Chief Chad Smith Residency Confirmed...Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Upholds Election Commission Decision Statement By Principal Chief Chad Smith I am pleased that the JAT, in an 3-0 opinion, upheld the decision of the Election Commission on the question of my residency. My residency and compliance with the Cherokee Nation Constitution has not been the issue, it has been a political platform by a another candidate for attention. As the saying goes, those who can’t run on their record resort to careless acts of desperation. My opponents know that I have a solid record of accomplishments to stand on as Chief and challenging my residency was nothing more than baseless accusations. The challenger in this case, Robin Mayes, makes bogus claims the Cherokee Nation is illegitimate, yet he is running for Principal Chief. He claims he doesn’t believe in Cherokee Nation’s Court system, but no one has filed, or lost, more frivolous lawsuits than Robin Mayes. In 2000, Mayes tried to start his own tribe out of the clear blue sky and sold 200 phoney car tags to unsuspecting victims. An Oklahoma court shut him down and ordered him to pay back the people who he defrauded. Instead, he has filed bankruptcy to try to avoid paying that debt. Reporters should ask who is paying his lawyers to file challenges aimed at me and others in this election. How does he have money to pay them and not have the money to pay the people he has been ordered by a court to repay? Cherokee citizens are intelligent and informed. They can easily distinguish the difference between those who turn good words into good deeds and those who don’t. It was clear in Court that Mr. Mayes was being helped by disgruntled nay-sayers. It has been an honor serving the Cherokee people these last four years. I am confident that the Cherokee will vote to continue peace, pride and progress on May 24 by voting for Chad Smith and Joe Grayson. Excerpts from the JAT’s ruling: "Smith meets the threshold burden of proof for residency..." "He (Smith) was well aware of the residency requirement and did everything legally necessary to comply with it..." "There is NO evidence that would lead this Court to believe the Tahlequah residence of Appellee Smith is illegitimate or insignificant." (emphasis added) "The requirement of bona fide permanent residence has been met in this matter by a detailed, factual analysis..."
For further information contact:
Principal Chief Chad Smith Campaign Media Office
Linda Turnbull-Lewis
918-458-9322
P.O. Box 1767, Tahlequah, OK 74465
www.chadsmith.com
Email: re-elect@chadsmith.com | 
