Opinion

Robert Jumper: Eastern Cherokee youth show great leadership

Monday, June 1, 2015

Timmy Ray Smith, a candidate for principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, presents to the Junaluska Leadership Council. Photo from Facebook

Robert Jumper, the editor of The Cherokee One Feather, praises the Junaluska Leadership Council for hosting candidate forums for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina:

During the month of May, the Junaluska Leadership Council (JLC) hosted several candidate forums for the elected offices that will be the focus of a primary on June 4. The forums were televised on Channel 28 and received coverage in the One Feather. Most of the candidates were able to participate. The youth who make up the Council organized the format and selected the standard questions that were asked of each candidate and the random questions that were asked of randomly-selected candidates.
The JLC members were very professional in their execution of the forums, and the format provided each candidate an opportunity to share their autobiography, platforms and insights on issues that are of importance to the Cherokee community.
The questions were relevant and, at times, pointed. They dealt with current issues, concerns and the future of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Being televised, the voters had the opportunity to see how candidates presented in a format in which government leaders typically find themselves.
One of the Junaluska Leadership Council’s advisors concluded the series of forums by letting the audience know that the JLC members selected the format and questions on their own with no influence by their adult advisors. I think this tells us that our youth are capable of great decisions when given the proper information and training.

Get the Story:
EDITORIAL by Robert Jumper: Junaluska Leadership Council deserves praise for Meet the Candidate forums (The Cherokee One Feather 6/1)