Micheal Dykstra, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, serves on the city commission in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Photo from Facebook
A war between the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the city of Shawnee, Oklahoma, continues to escalate. Gary Vogel, a former city commissioner, is accusing the tribe and its representatives of bribery. He claims fellow commissioner Micheal Dykstra, who is a tribal member, asked him to support the tribe's request to detach its trust land from the city. "Dykstra told me that if I didn’t play ball, I would lose business –– that it was going to get published all over to every CPN member to not do business with me, that I was anti-Indian," Vogel, who resigned from the city commission in April due to health reasons, told The Shawnee News-Star. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations has completed a probe into the allegations. But the tribe said it was never contacted. “We understand that the OSBI may feel obligated to investigate accusations, especially those made by politicians,” attorney Gregory M. Quinlan told The Oklahoman. “Unfortunately this is more of the same from what we've seen in Shawnee in recent years, and specifically against anyone that opposes the old guard politicians who stir up divisiveness amongst Shawnee citizens." The tribe has been at odds over the city's attempt to impose a sales tax on its businesses. The tribe is also blaming the city for an estimated $1.2 million in damage to the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center. Get the Story:
OSBI probes bribery claims against Shawnee city commissioner (The Shawnee News-Star 9/16)
OSBI investigated bribery allegation involving Shawnee City Commission (The Oklahoman 9/14)
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