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Oklahoma Senator Stipe Enters The Dahlonegah School Scandal is a Real Conflict Of Interest!

The Muskogee Phoenix today featured a great editorial in their Editorially Speaking section.

Stipe's actions at Dahlonegah crossed the line.

"Zeal in pursuing a client's interests is part and parcel of a lawyer's work. However, when that lawyer also is a public servant, appropriate standards of conduct must temper such zeal.

"That wasn't the case recently when state Senator Gene Stipe demanded the Dahlonegah school board reinstate his client, former school treasurer Joe King.

"Interim Superintendent Fred Adams said Stipe tried to intimidate the board into rehiring King, who was fired after he was indicted on fraud charges. Adams said he and a board member quickly told Stipe no reinstatement would come.

"Adams also said he didn't believe Stipe was presenting himself as a state senator. And Stipe might not have given one thought to his public position. (He didn't return a call Tuesday seeking comment.)

"Nevertheless, situations where powerful lawmakers have issues before local public bodies are, by definition, sensitive.

"Stipe is a prominent political figure and a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which approves all education funding. These facts couldn't have eluded Dahlonegah officials when Stipe was making his demands.

"Because Oklahoma maintains a "part-time" Legislature, lawmakers are expected to have regular jobs. Stipe, one of 13 attorneys in the 48-member Senate, isn't the first lawmaker to have a client before a public body, nor will he be the last.

"But in such cases, lawmakers must make certain they don't use their public position to advance their private interests.

"Trying to intimidate a school board clearly crosses that line -- and Stipe should know it."

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We could not agree more! It appears that Gene Stipe has no thought about, and in our opinion "no business" being involved with the internal affairs of the Cherokee Nation. But that did not stop him from participating in an illegal kangaroo court that sought to overthrow the judicial branch of the Cherokee Nation's government! Interesting when you look at this in the clear light it would have suited the interest of the state government and all Indian opponents if the Cherokee Nation's legitimate government were to crumble and operate solely under a one man dictatorship along with cronies in the Interior Department of the fed. government who could just have a field day with the more than $180,000,000 in funds that are ear marked for the tribe. Just my opinion but Stipes participation screamed of "conflict of interest" as well as "illegal behavior."

We understand that Rex Earl Starr, a Stipe devotee, is the legal representative of none other than, Dora Mae Watie the Cherokee Nation Councilor who was a Dahlonegah school board member recently arrested and charged with embezzlement of state school funds in the same scandal that the editorial speaks about. If it is true that Rex Earl Starr is representing Watie in her criminal case, don't you find it a true conflict of interest since Rex Earl Star is the tribe's general counsel and the case has nothing to do with Watie in her capacity as a Councilor? What happens if Watie's criminal charges end up affecting her ability to legally hold office any longer in her capacity as a Cherokee Nation Councilor... isn't Rex Earl Starr going to find himself again serving the criminal's interest first and the Cherokee Nation's interest last?

It is also interesting to note, although probably not illegal but certainly questionable with regard to conflicts, that the D.A. who was originally in charge of the Dahlonegah investigation was none other than Rex Earl Starr's cousin, Dianne Barker Harrold. We understand that Medearis has been put in charge of the case now.

Another blatant conflict of interest when it comes to Oklahoma State lawmakers is Byrd's appointment of Larry Adair to the Cherokee Nation's Gaming Commission. This is pure conflict of interest since Adair will be required in his capacity as an elected state official to vote on issues that may come up regarding gaming compacts between the tribes and the state of Oklahoma.

Legalities aside, there is real grounds for the public to be concerned about a conflict of interest within the legal and justice system down here in Cherokee and Adair County.