To the Editor,

“Keeping ‘Em Honest” ain’t stopping cause folks paid a lot of money to keep me out of office. As a matter of fact, this engine may just be getting started.

In “Keeping ‘Em Honest,” the Lumbee people should know a few things. Two directors within LTNC Tribal Administration during their workday intimidated a local restaurant owner into removing my campaign signs on at least two occasions. Amidst multiple complaints of inappropriate employee involvement, Chairwoman Sharon Hunt issued a policy concerning employee participation in elections during the November 2011 campaign.

During the election, at least one candidate for tribal chairman paid $100 to $250 to transport voters and provide other services in other races.

During election day, residents of Arrow Point were allowed to vote in elections in both Districts 6 and 7. Arrow Point is a part of District 7. Candidates closely affiliated with each other won in both districts.

The election for tribal chairman was held because greed, deception, lack of accountability, all resulting in an absence of trust, had crippled our highest elected office. The same list of activity characterized some of the wins on election day.

The people of the Lumbee tribe should begin immediately to call in the promises of jobs, roofs, windows, doors, renovations, homes, and assistance with your bills from those who won office on Tuesday. Many of those elected will have a guilty conscious and will seek repentance in order to cover shame. Some will have no guilt or conscious. Some will still have hangovers. Tribal members should take advantage of all of these. Those elected should be made to deliver in this year before the next election. If they don’t, voters should consider voting without being paid for it!

Light from the hearts of just men and women will be needed more than ever as our tribe enters a darkness like we have never known. In that darkness, I will continue to be about “Keeping ‘Em Honest!”

Eric Locklear

Pembroke