Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
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Cherokee, NC - The new Chief elect of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) says that accessibility to tribal members is to be top priority. Leon D. Jones was elected Chief of the EBCI on September 2, 1999. Many have said that the reason for Joyce Dugan not being re-elected was lack of accessibility. Jack Bradley, a Cherokee resident said, "You could go by anytime of the day" and talk with Taylor. Jonathan "Ed" Taylor, was former Chief Dugan's predecessor. Jones stated that he hoped to be available to tribal members.

"We're a small community and we all know each other. Throughout history our chief has always been accessible." Jones said, "I want to visit with the people more, be accessible to hear the problems."

Joyce Dugan said she agreed that the lack of accessibility was the likely reason for her defeat, adding that Jones will have the same problems.

"I was not accessible to the public like they wanted me to be, I think it hurt me. I wanted to be accessible." said Dugan. "We struggled with this problem early on, I was so swamped. I kept waiting for that to let up, but it never did. It never let up."

The EBCI has 12,000 members and is the only federally recognized tribe in North Carolina. The tribe owns Harrah's Cherokee Smoky Mountains Casino which attracts millions every year. Jones said, "It's overcrowded on weekends."

Chief elect Jones is scheduled to meet with Governor Jim Hunt next week. The Chief elect will be asking the state to approve extra space for gambling and higher jack pots. The casino is now restricted to 60,000 square feet.

Jones said, "I think the need is there. We have high hopes of convincing the governor the need is there." If the state allows expansion of the casino, the tribe will probably decide to extend its management contract with Harrah's Entertainment. The present management contract is a five year contract.

Another priority for Jones is the cash flow of the Cherokee Indian Hospital. Joyce Dugan had talked about contracting hospital services. Tribal members who work at the hospital feared the loss of their jobs.

The 63 year old Jones is expected to continue the hard fought battle by former Chief Dugan to stop or at least slow down the rate of diabetes that effects 1 out of 3 EBCI Tribal members. 1 in 10 people in the general population have diabetes. A million dollar dialysis center was just opened by the EBCI last month.

Principal Chief elect Leon D. Jones and Vice Chief elect Carroll "Pee Wee" Crowe will be sworn into office on October 4, 1999.