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State of Oklahoma
Posted: Jun 21, 2022 5:53 AMUpdated: Jun 21, 2022 5:53 AM
REPORT: Oklahoma CD 2 and The Tribes
Tom Davis
With 13 Republicans running for an open congressional seat that covers mostly native land, some District 2 candidates say they support added federal funding for tribal law enforcement, while others are calling to dismantle reservations.
Of the six candidate who responded to the question posed by the site The Frontier, the answers varied.
John Bennett, the former chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party who is now running for District 2, in April called for Congress to “dis-establish” the Tribes and said it would be one of his main priorities if elected.
Wes Nofire, a member of the Cherokee Nation Council who is running for the District 2 seat, said he does not believe continued funding for federal law enforcement in Eastern Oklahoma is a “long-term solution.”
Republican candidate Johnny Teehee, who is chief of police in Muskogee and a Cherokee Nation citizen, said he is a “firm believer” in tribal sovereignty.
State Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, who is also running for the open congressional seat, is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation and said that he believes “tribal sovereignty is positive for Oklahoma.”
State Rep. Dustin Roberts, R-Durant, is also running for the open congressional seat and said he believes the U.S. Supreme Court made the “correct” decision when it ruled that Congress “never removed Oklahoma’s reservation status” and that because of this “leaders of our State need to work with the tribes as we have done since statehood.”
Candidate State Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, was vague in his responses to The Frontier. Quinn said he has “faith in both the tribal and the non tribal members” and believes “there’s still the opportunity for both sides to sit down and come to an agreement that is helpful.”
Current District 2 Congressman, Markwayne Mullin, who is Cherokee, has been supportive of tribal sovereignty.
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