Bob Shiles
Staff writer
PEMBROKE — Two candidates filed this week for seats on the 21-member Lumbee Tribal Council, and no one new filed for the chairman’s seat.
In District 5, which encompasses the communities of Oxendine and Prospect, Ruby B. Locklear filed for the seat currently held by Kernice Locklear, who is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.
A Robeson County native, Ruby Locklear is a certified school social worker with the Public Schools of Robeson County.
“My vision for the Lumbee Tribe is unity and perseverance. The Lumbee Tribal Government guided by our constitution must collaboratively deliver educational, social and economic programs to the tribal members,” she said in a statement. “As your district Tribal Council board member, I will bring a new image of fairness, cooperation and justice as I fulfill my duties to the Lumbee people. I solicit your vote on Nov. 13 to ensure each tribal member has equal representation.”
Locklear graduated from Pembroke High School, and holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in social work from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
While at the university, Locklear received the Faculty Scholarship Award and graduated cum laude. She was a university marshal, received the Outstanding Leadership and Service Award, and is a member of the Alpha Delta Mu National Social Worker Honor Society.
Currently, she serves as a member of Robeson County Public Library’s board of trustees. She is also a member of Prospect United Methodist Church, where she has held numerous positions.
Locklear is married to Paul Locklear Jr. and lives in Prospect. They have four children.
Locklear is the second candidate to file as a candidate for the District 5 seat, joining Millicent Strickland Collins.
Collins has 20 years of local government experience and is the grants administrator for Robeson County. Shesays she has helped to win $6.5 million in grants for the county that have created 250 jobs.
Jimmy Hunt, a former member of the Tribal Council, filed this week as a candidate for the District 14 seat currently held by Homer Fields. District 14 encompasses East Howellsville, Wisharts and Britts.
Hunt did not provide The Robesonian with any biographical information or a photo.
The candidate filing period continues through Friday. Candidates for any of the positions, all of which are for three-year terms, can file at the Lumbee Tribal Housing Complex on N.C. 711 in Pembroke on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The filing fee for tribal chairman is $500, while the fee for those wishing to win a seat on the council is $250.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6117 or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.
You say you are "Indian." You are a "apple" red on the outside, white on the inside. A modern day Benedict Arnold. You're watching too much tv again. You tend to think all Natives look the same. You let tv paint a picture for you. You think all Natives look alike huh? Do all whites, blacks, asians, and latinos look the same?
Ross, I can tell it gets you off some how to discuss race. You stated, "we've gotten along great with all races for centuries." Wow!! Who is we? Unless you're 500 years old, shut that sewer hole in your face! Let me school you very briefly. Do you know how long a century is? 100 years. The schools were still segregated in the 60's. I guess you live under a rock huh? No wait, you live in a virtual world! Julian Pierce was murdered March 26th 1988 for being the favorite to win Superior Court Judge in Robeson County. He would have been the first Native to do so. Guess what, they never found out who did it, hmmm wonder why? Joe Freeman Britt (white) won with no contest. Is this your interpretation of "getting along?" Don't say, "we have Native judges now." It doesn't matter, you don't see the big picture. The Chief Justice in Raleigh is over all the judges, White Power! Then you say Obama is president. He is a spokesperson. Congress has all the power. Don't you see, they changed who had the power right under your nose. It evolved with the times. The objective was to keep the little people (you and I) happy. A happy citizen is a productive citizen.
You, say my people should be called "crayola indians." Let's do that, we can make a special edition box just for you, "Chameleon Ross." "Watch how it is put next to other colors, it changes to that color right in front of your eyes!" "Truly Amazing!" "See him perform this amazing act at the Saddletree Pow-Pow booth 6." "Where will he appear next?" Stay tuned to Robesonian online and play "Find The Chameleon."
Ross, you don't deserve the next breath of air that comes to you.
You say I'm an apple, boy now I've heard everything, haa, how bout that, since I don't follow some racial template, you call me a name.
Well look here, Geronimo, been called worse, my friend. I'm not part of your little world, fella. Have fun with "your" people, but know this, when you walk away, turn around quick and look at how everybody's laughing at you. Everybody!... haha!
Also at booth 6 at the Saddletree PowWow this weekend I'll have some "lumbee shirts" for YOU. They'll be the ones that read "HARLEY-DAVIDSON"...
I'll be selling APPLES too, boy that's the funniest thing I've ever heard... an apple, imagine that..
Perhaps, and I'm saying perhaps, I have strucken a nerve with you? I'm not worried about "Chameleon Ross." Tomorrow's a new day, and will yeild new topics of discussion. You can see him morph into something else. Robeson County's own self proclaimed racial expert and historian. He's reading books and wikipedia again! He's the one that believes if it's in a book or online, it's true. Let the Benedict Arnold commerce with his own race, I'm sure he will pay a fee just to be there, so someone will benefit. Merly pennies and dimes, the "apple boy" he is indeed. Makes him feel like he is ceo of something. Geronimo (Apache), wrong tribe "chameleon." I have set my own legacy. It's great that you made reference to a real American Hero!
I am racist. That includes every man under the sun according to its definition. When I refer to whites, blacks, and others. I refer to them as a whole. Individually they may seem okay, but get them in a group and you will see there true take on things. Thats human characteristics. All races do the same, including mine. When people like to seperate themselves from others (ie Lumbee Tribe) that's when the stone throwing comes in. Again, and Again, how does the Tribal Council concern you! What is there possibly to be scared of?
You are a ticle a minute... My goodness, please, please keep us informed on the dangers of being a naaaaative around here, please let us know when we need to get our bow and arrows ready for the next WAR!.. I hope it's not against the Italians this time, you know we lost our land the first time to an Italian, 'ol COL. Chris Columbus was hopped up on wine and pizza last time they're tough. Man you're funny, I haven't laughed so hard at anyone in a long time, keep it up.
Hey "mrbuzzlightfeather2" are you sure you were born or did you arrive in a box with a wagon, some plastic horses and little plastic indian and cowboy figurines? Check your back and make sure there's no double A batteries in there. You are not the REAL Buzz LightFeather.....
YOU. ARE. A. TOYEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
BBBD, as it would be so lovely to beleive that no one is influenced by race. Why do we have so many seperate communities, schools, churches, etc? Also why do some many types of applications for employment, ect ask for race? "Chameleon Ross" stated he is color blind. How ludicrous is that? Man has color deception in his eyes for a reason. I would like to ask you that same question when a hoodlum of Indians, Blacks, or Latinos move next door to you. Or if your kids or grandkids have to be transferred to a minority dominate school.
Instead of lumbee, why not re-name the tribe "crayola" indians. You know, all colors in one box...
Come on people quit this mess, you know we've gotten along great with all races for centuries, why do you want to mess things up now. Yall keep it up and sombody's gonna pull an Andrew Jackson on ya! Keep it up, tic the right ones off, and you'll have a one-way ticket on a wagon trail west.