SADDLETREE — Lumbee Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks on Thursday submitted to Tribal Council members his candidate for tribal administrator, asking that Steven Hunt be confirmed as “soon as possible and put to work.”
Hunt is manager of the Tredegar Film Products plant in Red Springs. The chairman told council members during their meeting at the Four Winds Community Center in Saddletree that Hunt is the only person he plans to recommend for the position that is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the tribe.
Brooks praised the 46-year-old Pembroke resident, calling his character “impeccable” and his management skills “above reproach.”
The tribe has been without a tribal administrator for about two years. Rose Marie Lowry-Townsend, whose contract was not renewed following allegations that she and former Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett mismanaged tribal money, was the last to hold the position.
The salary range for the administrator’s position is between $96,000 and $106,000, but Councilwoman Louise Mitchell said that could change when the council finally completes its budget for fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2012.
Hunt is the second candidate that Brooks has brought to the council for confirmation as tribal administrator since taking office in November 2011. The council last year twice denied his nomination of Gervais Oxendine for the position, telling Brooks to bring forward more than one candidate for their consideration.
Hunt said it would be his top priority to get the chairman and council to “work as one unit” so that the negative perception the public has of the tribe and its leadership can be changed.
“I see this as a real opportunity for me to do something for the Lumbee people,” he said.
Hunt, who said his work and management experience has almost always been on the technical side of manufacturing, holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1988 to 1992, leaving as a captain.
“The chairman is looking for someone to manage the day-to-day operations of the tribe so he can focus on economic development. He will be the strategic guy. I’ll be the tactical guy.”
Council members plan to review Hunt’s application and interview him on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Among other business, the council on Thursday:
— Recognized Harold Hunt for his service to local veterans and his appointment to a national committee that advises the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Congress on issues of importance to minority veterans.
Hunt is serving his first two-year term as the representative for American Indians on the Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans. In the position he not only represents the Lumbee Tribe, but also represents the interests of American Indians across the country.
Hunt served as the director of Veterans Affairs for Robeson County from 2000 to 2003 and is a former Veterans Affairs officer for the Lumbee Tribe. Over the years he has worked closely with the Veterans Medical Center in Fayetteville, as well as with other medical centers administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
— Scheduled a second public hearing for March 5 at 6 p.m. to present its proposed fiscal year budget to tribal members. A public hearing was held earlier this month on the budget that was supposed to become effective Oct. 1, 2012.
— Heard a brief update on the status of Lumbee Tribe Enterprises. Lumbee Tribe Enterprises is a small business owned by the Lumbee Tribe that is looking to provide products and services to industry and government. It is headquartered in Pembroke and also operates out of Stafford, Va.
Ross.
My question is why would he leave what seems to be a good job to go to work in a very political environment?
Is he in danger of losing his current job or is the pay range for the administrator's job actually worth the move?
For those who question Hunt's qualifications, just remember that our county manager was formerly a supervisor for a textile manufacturing plant. Hunt has reached a much higher position than that already in his career.
If he gets the nod, I hope that he does a good job and doesn't get caught up in the political game.
He has lost his contract because of POOR PERFROMANCE and POOR PRODUCT PRODUCTION.. And that place is shutting down. He currently has been offered a job at Graphic Packing.being Plant manager is no means, NO MEANS qualify someone to run tribal programs. Is there a production line at the turtle we don't know about? So will the tribe go to 3 shifts, an union, and stricker OSHA audits?? This is a joke. I'm ashamed to be Lumbee right now.
I heard that one of his buddies went to work at Graphic recently so that would explain the job offer!
Funny how some people seem to land on their feet!
I think we should start a petition to have
this user BLOCKED from making comments!
ROSS, Its funny how you hide behind your screen name I'd be willing to bet you wouldn't have the NERVE to say half the things that you TYPE.
Hiding behind your screen name, your such a PUNK!
ps. And I hide from no man, period.........
Here we go again. I do not know Mr. Steven Hunt and for all I know he is a good manager at Tredegar Film Products. He is not a good choice for this position. He may be a good selection as a manager of department yes, Tribal Administrator, no.
Mr. Chairman once again you show your talents show; closed minded,lack of leadership, and have a limited understanding of the position of Tribal Administrator. What are Mr. Hunt's credentials? B.A. in Chemisty, good, but what does that have to go with policy, housing,finance or running a large organization.
Mr. Chairman, you should take a good look around the country and see how true leadership in other tribes select their administrative staff. As usually, you offer bullying tactics towards the council and advise them he is "your" only candidate and they are to approve him as soon as possible. I guess like Mr. Oxendine, he is the best of the best. I'm trying not to laugh...
The sad part of all this is you are allowing your small minded leadership style to affect the leadership of this administration. Guess it doesn't really matter who you are looking for. As long as you can control them, they will be your best and only candidate.
It really won't matter, if the council approves Mr. Hunt or not. In the end, Chairman Brooks will be running the daily operations of the tribe. Wow, talk about power hungry..
“Rossisright I predict Robeson County for the first time in history will go REPUBLICAN. How do I know this? I really believe they are tired of and have woke up to the lies from the democrats. Obama's numbers will be shocking in this county.
30% Obama
70% Romney!
Watch and whine..... end of quote) Guess you were WRONG
Unlike you, with your sarcastic comments, there are people who really care for the poor; they are called “Democrat’s.” I just had to say that, to let you know that I can be a little sarcastic.
So I came to realize that Robeson has no hope of ever being smart enough to vote Republican.. I sure had hope, but like my moma used to say "spit in one hand and hope in the other and see which one fills up first"... Oh well.
As as far as your comment about democrats help the poor, i'm calling squat on that. They wont do anything for the poor without someone elses money. Everything the democrats propose to do for the poor, they ONLY use taxpayers money to do it. And since most democrats are poor, guess who foots most of their givaways... We Republicans...
My friend, you are so deluded in your thinking that the democrats "care about the poor". There is not enough space here to refute you, but the democrat plan is to keep the poor dependent on the government rather than help them become independent. Are you so very blind that you can't see that? If you are an u married woman with children, you get rewarded...this discourages marriage and family. If you abuse yourself, you get rewarded with money given freely, and no work squired. His created basically slavery and dependency. All I can figure is you must be u der 40, and have never seen the real world. Winston Churchill said if you are not a liberal at 20, you have no heart, but of you have not become a conservative by age 40, you have no head ( read reasonings ability here), the democrats are bankrupting this county monetarily and morally. Queer marriage, school curriculums tha show warped up situations as normal, and I could go on all night.
Woe, Jezus said, to those who call evil good and good evil. I hope one day you wise up before its too late.
Good post. Now I have a quests for you. In the military, it's said that if you suggest something, you should be willing to take the lead to carry out your strategy.
I'd bet you one of my pension checks that if you my friend would set up this "neighbors helping neighbors Corps, and started to set up the modern day "barn raisin'" to help out with the repairs you suggest, you would have a lot of volunteers. Work thru the Churches for volunteers, and use the tribe for their list of folks needing help, and hopefully even for purchase of supplies. Sort of like a habitat for lum humanity.
Make that setup forward brother, and I'm sure that you will have many offering helping hands.
Don't these tribe members have family members who can do some trailer repairs? How can you let your parents sit on a list when you can do something for them? No children? How about friends? Neighbors? Surly with all the love and pride this club has for "our people" there must be someone they know who can render repairs for a needy person.. Right?
It's a sad state of affairs when people stop helping one another out, and with all the elderly sitting on a waiting list, it's apparent that most have turned a blind eye on one another. Sad.
ps. What did people do before there was a repair waiting list? Hmmm?
Chill out with the name calling. He has a right to freedom of speech. Shame on you!