As was mentioned in an earlier post, debates among candidates in the Cherokee race for chief involve economic issues. One is how the tribe will get around depending on Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino for 87% of its income. The other is how the tribe will pay off its massive debt.
Current chief Michell Hicks wants to diversify the economy by ramping up native craft sales. Patrick Lambert scoffed at the thought that “rubber tomahawk type shops” were going to do the trick. He thought Cherokee should follow the models of nearby municipalities that have turned to boutique and quirky shops to spruce up their economies. Gary Ledford wanted to try out a tribal WalMart or theme park.
Whereas Hicks evaded questions about the debt, Lambert recommended contracting no further debt, “softening the regulatory environment” to attract businesses, and possibly going into the green energy business.
Nearly everyone advocated for bumping up the tribe’s participation in Section 8 contracting, a federal program that helps bring a range of contracts to Native American tribes.
