PEMBROKE — Lumbee Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks said Monday that he has no intention of withdrawing the name of his choice for tribal administrator, but added that he will not bring another name to the Tribal Council to be considered for the position.
“My nomination stands on the table,” Brooks said. “I am not going to pursue another nominee. There are too many important things that would benefit the people that need to be implemented.”
The Robesonian, in a headline in its Sunday edition, said that the chairman had decided to “withdraw” the name of Gervais Oxendine to fill the tribal administrator’s position that has been vacant since the council last year refused to renew the contract of Rose Marie Lowry-Townsend. Brooks said the newspaper misunderstood a statement he issued last week.
In the statement, Brooks said that he no longer planned to pursue the hiring of an administrator during the remaining months of his time as chairman. Brooks was elected in November to fill the remaining one-year term of former Chairman Purnell Swett.
“After much consideration of the issues raised by the Tribal Council members and out of respect for the positions to which they were elected, it would not be in the best interest of the tribe to pursue a contract for a tribal administrator,” Brooks’ statement reads. “Due to the time required for the nomination process and the short time until the next election, our tribal government has many more important things on which we need to focus.”
Ed Brooks, the tribe’s attorney, said that the chairman has met tribal constitution requirements that he bring a nominee for administrator forward for the council to consider. As long as he does not withdraw Oxendine’s name, the attorney said, the chairman is not required to bring another name to the council.
Although the tribal chairman has the authority to hire the administrator, tribal law requires that the 21-member Lumbee Tribal Council approve that individual. The next tribal administrator’s term would extend only until the end of Brooks’ term in November. The council on two occasions, the most recent being March 15 at its regular monthly meeting, rejected the chairman’s nomination of Oxendine to serve as administrator.
Brooks told The Robesonian on Monday that he had received eight applications, Oxendine “by far” has the best qualifications for the job.
“The best thing the Tribal Council can do for the people is hire an administrator with Oxendine’s qualifications,” Brooks said. “He has military background and the business experience needed to move the tribe forward.”
Oxendine, who served as an Navy officer during the Vietnam War, lives in Lumberton. His business experience has been in the area of engineering and manufacturing, having held numerous management positions with Abbots Labs, both out of the company’s headquarters in Chicago and its plant in Laurinburg. Currently, he serves as a business consultant.
“I have a certain skills set that I think could help manage the tribe,” Oxendine told The Robesnian. “My intention was to use my skills to help with the organization and development (of the tribal administration), making sure that expectations are clear to persons in departments and that goals are set. … The staff needs a clear understanding of expectations and who is accountable for what.”
Brooks said he definitely needs an administrator to assist in the day-to-day operations of Lumbee government. If hired as administrator, Brooks said, Oxendine would shoulder most of the tribe’s day-to-day administrative duties while he handles other important issues that need to be addressed, such as federal recognition and economic development.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6117 or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.
Could Brook's pick find some skelton's in the closets at the Lumbee tribe? Many of us know they are there. If an man with no high school diploma can make over $50,000 a year at that office...these Lumbees (ALL OF THEM) deserve decent housing!
A military and engineering background is not what the tribe needs just as it does not need another educator. The tribe need someone who understands government policies like HUD and the experience in running the every day operation of a non-profit organization.
Anyone who has worked in either sector will know there is a major difference in the two.
I do agree the tribal administration needs to have clearer understanding of their positions, but there is a bigger picture at hand. The tribal administration deserve effective leadership and you are taking that away from them.
You have not grasp that concept since you are already acknowledging that a tribal administrator is needed to handle the daily operations of the tribe.
So if I understand what you are stating, if Mr. Oxendine is not getting the position, then no one is getting the position. That means "you" will run the daily operations. Sounds like a conflict of interest.
Mr. Chairman, I rate you as a poor leader and communicator who is resorting to rhetoric supplied by a relative who has a law background.
Stop being petty and provide the unity that you promised when you were elected. Your actions are speaking louder than your words. Still waiting for that better communication with the branches of government.
You may not be as bad as Chairman Swett, but you are starting to run a close second.
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We spoke with the Oxendines. They have moved into a home on McMillian Avenue, near the hospital, in Lumberton.
Donnie Douglas
Editor
The Robesonian