One of the issues in this year's election is transparency in government. My track record for transparency is clear: I put forward a Free Press Act, a Freedom of Information Act and our financial audits have won national awards nine years in a row. I'm also willing to be transparent with my personal finances, and I encourage my opponent to do the same. I am willing to make my family's tax returns public, and I've challenged him to do the same. Five days after I issued the challenge, he has not responded. I am running on my record and am proud of what I have done in office. All I ask is for my opponent to be transparent as well.
Below is a copy of the letter I sent to my opponent and to the Speaker of the Council on Thursday of last week. I'm also attaching a link to a news story the Cherokee Phoenix has published on this topic:
http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/Index/4799
The letter reads as follows:
Meredith Frailey, Speaker of the Council
Bill John Baker, Council Member District 1: Seat 1
Cherokee Nation Tribal Council House
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465
RE: Transparency and Accountability in Government
Dear Madam Speaker and Councilor Bill John Baker:
It is in the public interest for those seeking the highest office in the Nation to
make a financial disclosure similar to that for a candidate for President of the
United States. Disclosure of the tax returns of a candidate and the candidate’s
spouse will promote transparency and accountability in government.
Household tax returns will be of assistance to the Cherokee citizenry to
determine whether a candidate seeking high office has any conflicts of interest
or any financial ties that would lead to improprieties. This financial information
will assist and advise the citizenry with pertinent information of the individual
candidates, and thus result in a more informed voter.
I have hereby enclosed a sealed copy of mine and my wife’s 2009 federal
income tax returns complete with attachments, addressed to the Speaker. My
challenge to my opponent is for him to provide the Speaker with his and his
wife’s complete 2009 IRS income tax return complete with schedules.
Upon receipt of my opponent and his wife’s complete income tax returns, I
ask the Speaker to unseal mine and make the all tax returns of both mine
and my opponent’s household tax returns available to the general public. I’m
sure my opponent would agree with me about the need for transparency and
accountability in government.
I challenge my opponent to submit his and his wife’s tax returns to you Madam
Speaker on or before May 1, 2011.
Sincerely,
Chad Smith
Principal Chief
