Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH - Pat Ragsdale, 52, and Paula Holder, 37, have formally announced their candidacy for Principal Chief and Deputy Chief, respectively, of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO). Wilma Mankiller, former chief of the CNO is backing the Ragsdale/Holder ticket.

Ragsdale has the administrative, accounting and Washington experience needed to do this job, said Mankiller, and added that it requires the ability to meet health needs, create employment and build housing while overseeing an annual budget estimated at $150 million, said Mankiller. The former chief stated, that this is the "most important" election in modern-day Cherokee Nation history dating back to the middle 1970's.

Pat Ragsdale, candidate for Principal Chief, is the former head of the CNO's Marshal Service. Ragsdale has 28 years of experience working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in both Oklahoma and Washington. Paula Holder, candidate for Deputy Chief, presently holds a seat on the CNO tribal council, the second of four-year terms.

Ragsdale believes the he and Holder can take care of the infrastructure needs and bring the turmoil in the tribe to an end. "There is a simple solution to bringing the turmoil to an end, he stated, and that is to respect the rights and liberties of Cherokee people assured by their constitution and to abide by the rule of law."

The standard can be set by "running an honest government", Ragsdale said, and added that Holder "is not afraid to take a stand for what is just and right."

"I would like for the Cherokee Nation to get back to providing jobs and services." Paula Holder said, calling for an end to tribal division.

Ragsdale and Holder are calling for a merit system for the protection of employees when there are changes in administrations and political pressures, they also want to enact a freedom of information act for the tribe to ensure that its business is open to all Cherokees.