Legislation | Regulation

New Eastern Cherokee chief takes aim at gaming commission

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Patrick Lambert on the campaign trail in September 2015. Photo from Facebook

Patrick Lambert was sworn in as the 37th principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina on Monday and moved to replace all of the members of the gaming commission.

Lambert criticized the sitting members for hiring former chief Michell Hicks as the executive director of the commission. In a resolution presented to the tribal council, he cited a potential conflict of interest because Hicks had appointed them to their positions on the regulatory body.

The resolution states that "each of the current commissioners was appointed by the former Principal Chief Michell Hicks; and whereas the TGC negotiated with Michell Hicks while he was still in the official capacity as Principal Chief and therefore in an oversight position of the current TGC commissioners, they negotiated with him for future employment and a higher salary than budgeted as Executive Director of the TGC," The Cherokee One Feather reported.

The resolution -- which was approved by the council -- calls for the removal of the three commissioners, The One Feather reported. A second resolution -- which also passed -- names two new members, the paper said.

Hicks served three terms as chief but chose not to seek re-election. Before he stepped down, he interviewed for the executive director position at the gaming commission. He was not the first choice but was hired after the top candidate rejected the offer, The One Feather reported in an earlier story.

Lambert was the first executive director position at the gaming commission. He worked there for 22 years before stepping down in January to run for chief. He was elected last month with 71 percent of the vote.

Get the Story:
New Council takes seats, passes six resolutions (The Cherokee One Feather 10/6)
Lambert, Sneed take office (The Cherokee One Feather 10/5)