Legislative luncheon had something for everyone

There was something for almost everyone at last week’s Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon, ranging from the expected — state income tax reduction, funding for public education, jobs and economic development, accomplishments on legislative committees, blaming political opponents for impeding progress — to the unexpected — drag queens, abortion, a Mixed Martial Arts challenge — sprinkled with admonishments to “do the right thing” and submission to the Holy Spirit.

The annual event that focuses on four-minute presentations by elected officials or their representatives, was moderated by Jeff Mayo, co-chairman of the chamber’s legislative committee and publisher of Your TIMES. The luncheon was hosted by Carl Albert State College, and was held in the Stites All-Purpose Room.

Ernie Martens

Sallisaw Mayor Ernie Martens

Martens was elected mayor in 2018 after 15 years as Sallisaw High School principal and 15 years as an agriculture teacher.

Martens noted that he received plenty of complaints as a school administrator, and continues to receive complaints as mayor, just of a different nature, which prompted him to conjecture that those who complain “are not seeing the many blessings and the many great things that we have going on in our city.” To emphasize those blessings, he pointed to successes such as adding a “sidearm trash picker upper and pothole patching truck” to the city’s arsenal.

Then he put a fine point on key indicators of the city’s prosperity.

“Sales tax collection is trending up, and that is a great indicator of the overall well being of your city and the amount of business that’s happening in your city when you see sales tax collects that are trending up. That’s a really, really good indication of a healthy economy and a healthy city,” he said.

Martens provided a brief update on the city’s swimming complex and skate park, and said he anticipates work beginning before the end of the summer to tear down the old facility. He also made a point of praising the Cherokee Nation for its partnerships and its contributions to the city and the area.

Switching gears, Martens said “the airport is busier than it ever has been,” noting that there are weekly requests for hangar space “that we don’t have,” which means the need for future construction. He also said the industrial park is full, “so we’re looking at opportunities to purchase other land to expand” in order to attract industry to the community.

Then the mayor turned his focus to jobs and economic development.

“The ODVA (Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs) has been a great stimulus for us,” pointing out that Indian Capital Technical Center and Carl Albert State College are producing graduates who are making great wages, living in the community, and contributing to society and to the community.

Then he piqued everyone’s anticipation with an economic development announcement that wasn’t an announcement about businesses headed for Sallisaw.

“I can’t tell you who they are, but in three months’ time, there’s gonna be three major developments in this community that’s gonna blow the top of your head off, because it’s gonna be huge for this community.”

Jim Olsen

Rep. Jim Olsen

Olsen was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2018. He graduated from Nassau Community College, the University at Albany-State University of New York and Free Gospel Bible Institute. He and his wife, Becky, have seven children and 10 grandchildren. He serves as a Sunday school teacher at Watts Holiness Church in Sallisaw.

In his remarks, Olsen talked about income tax reduction, education “and a couple of social issues … drag queens and abortion.”

In talking about taxes, he advocated for limited government as well as a tax cut. “We’ve got lots of money. I believe it’s a good thing if we would give the people an income tax reduction,” he said of the direction he would like to see the Legislature move. “If we’re not going to give money back to the people now when we have $4 billion in savings, will we ever reduce income taxes?”

The congressman then trumpeted the Legislature’s increased funding of public education “more than we ever have in the history of the state.”

Then he shifted to social issues.

In talking about drag queen shows, “I’m going to argue they’re not really good for anybody to go to. I think we would all agree that under 18 and children do not need to be in proximity to drag queen shows,” he said.

He then explained why abortion matters in a chamber of commerce meeting. “If we hold to wholesome, old-fashioned values, that makes us attractive for people who want to move here, who also hold those same old-fashioned values. So one of the things we were involved in was opposing efforts to loosen up our abortion laws.”

Olsen then turned his wrath on the Supreme Court, claiming that “without any lawful basis and exceeding their authority of the judiciary, they struck down a couple of our laws.” He says he and his colleagues are currently determining ways to oppose” the rulings.

Warren Hamilton

State Senator Warren Hamilton

Elected in 2020, Hamilton represents District 7, which includes communities in Haskell, Latimer, LeFlore, Pittsburg and Sequoyah counties. He is the first senator in state history from the town of McCurtain. He is a devoted Christian and patriotic American.

Hamilton began by not only agreeing with Olsen’s remarks, but quoting Thomas Jefferson. “Thomas Jefferson said this in our Declaration of Independence, that the purpose of government is to secure the rights of the individual, and rights come from God.” Hamilton then recommended that in whatever is done, that it be in submission to the Holy Spirit and to God so that “it has a very good likelihood of succeeding. It’s important that we remember exactly where things go and the priorities that we’re supposed to have in government with the things that we do.”

He praised the state’s education package as “a phenomenal deal,” and pointed out that it includes teacher pay raises “that they so richly deserved.” But he then said the government is failing, noting there are still essential functions that are underfunded, which he said includes infrastructure development in southeastern Oklahoma, which facilitates commerce around the nation.

Hamilton explained that in order to better serve the citizens who pay taxes, the building of infrastructure goes hand in hand with facilitating “law enforcement, public safety, etc. for being able to provide better services for the constituents of southeast Oklahoma.” At the same time, however, he noted that “pay for law enforcement is woefully inadequate, at least at the county and municipal level.”

Then he caught everyone’s attention when he addressed the latest developments with the closing of the Talihina Veterans Home and the January 2025 opening of the Sallisaw Veterans Center.

Hamilton explained that in 2018, a bill was passed stipulating that the Talihina facility “would close when either the last veteran left or when Sallisaw was open, whichever one came first.” But last year, Senate Bill 1814 struck that language, he said.

“So statutorily they are able to do what they proposed and they are able to shut down [Talihina on] October 1. But those plans are on hold. Right now, the plan is not to close Talihina Oct. 1.”

The decision to close Oct. 1, Hamilton surmised, was done “strictly as a cost-saving measure. We lost sight of what the original intent of constructing veterans homes even was, and that is to take care of veterans. We’re a people of integrity, and when we say we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it. We do what we say we’re going to do and we do the right thing and we don’t always put money first.”

Then he praised the Sallisaw facility, which is still under construction.

“By the way, this facility, when it opens up, is going to be fantastic. It is going to be probably the best one in the entire state of Oklahoma.”

Lacey Pittman

Lacey Pittman, field representative for Senator MarkWayne Mullin

Mullin is an American businessman and politician who was sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January. A Republican, he was elected in a 2022 special election to fill the remainder of Jim Inhofe’s term. He is the second Cherokee Nation citizen elected to the Senate.

Pittman reviewed Mullin’s committee assignments, which include Armed Services; Environment and Public Works, in order to “combat federal overreach;” Health, Education, Labor and Pension; and Indian Affairs, “ensuring the federal government upholds its trusted treaty responsibilities to the tribal nations and strengthening tribal sovereignty and self determination policies, and fostering economic growth in Indian country.”

She noted the passage of legislation “which is reversing Biden’s regulatory penalties on states which protects infrastructure projects from runaway regulations, which is the northern long-eared bats off of the endangered species list,” a designation that “negatively affected crop production, animal feeding operations, roads, bridges, communication towers, etc.”

Then Pittman addressed the elephant in the room. Regarding the feud between Mullin and Sean O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and who Pittman called a bully, which began during a Senate committee meeting in March when O’Brien called Mullin a “greedy CEO” amid a heated discussion between the two. While news reports are unclear exactly who challenged who, Pittman said Mullin has accepted the challenge and suggested a charity MMA fight on Sept. 30 in Tulsa. Mullin, a MMA fighter in 2006-07 in Oklahoma’s Xtreme Fighting League, will “gladly put on his gloves after 15 years of retirement,” Pittman said.

Tom Woods

Senator Tom Woods

Woods grew up in Westville and in 2022 was elected to Senate District 4, which includes Adair County and parts of Cherokee, Delaware and Sequoyah counties. He operates a feed store, trucking company and a commercial cow/calf operation with 200 cows.

Describing himself as “just a poor boy farmer from Adair County,” Woods briefly detailed his service on committees that include Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Retirement and Insurance, Energy and Telecommunications, General Government, and Appropriations.

Woods told the assemblage that he supports a state income tax reduction and the recently passed education package. He also noted his efforts for a wildlife revolving fund, which had a $2 million appropriation, and will help rural fire departments. In addition, he supports police and rural fire departments, and is in favor of an income tax cut.

He says he is passionate about and votes for subsidies “to get business in here for jobs, for teacher pay raises and tax cuts” in order to get more money gong to local government, and advocates “being pro business 100%.”

Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner

Elected as Deputy Principal Chief in 2019, Warner champions cultural and language preservation, workforce training and readiness, and expanded opportunities for Cherokees to pursue education. He and his wife, Maco, and their three boys live in Sallisaw.

Warner was not able to attend the legislative luncheon because he was attending the OK Kids 12-and-Younger State Baseball Tournament at the Sallisaw Sports Complex.

Daryl Legg

Cherokee Nation District 6 Tribal Councilor Daryl Legg

Re-elected to his District 6 seat on June 3, Legg is Director of Vocational Programs for the Cherokee Nation. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in social welfare. He is passionate about helping remove barriers that ex-offenders face. He served sentences on three different occasions for non-violent drug charges, and now works diligently assisting Cherokee citizens who have been released from prison.

Legg praised the Early Childhood Development Center, which he said is “like an art museum,” and said the centers in Stilwell and Tahlequah are “the top development centers you’ve ever seen in your life.”

He then addressed state legislators, saying the Cherokee Nation appreciates the Legislature’s support. “We are great partners, and we are always going to continue to be great partners for this area and for Oklahoma. We can’t do it without y’all, and y’all can’t do it without us. Whatever support you give us, we appreciate it.”

Laramie Cochran representing Senator James Lankford

Lankford is Oklahoma senior U.S. senator, having held his seat since 2015. A Republican, he represents Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district.

Cochran, however, became ill and could not deliver remarks about Lankford.

Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce president Nikki Garrett (third from left) presents a plaque to to Diane Kelly, recognizing Cherokee Nation Career Services as the chamber’s Member of the Month for June.

Member of the Month

The Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce announced Cherokee Nation Career Services as its June Member of the Month.

CNCS provides tribal citizens with employment and training opportunities, including specific assistance for youth, individuals with disabilities and dislocated workers. Through economic development, CNCS helps to bring industries into northeastern Oklahoma by offering recruitment fairs and employee training, also overseeing many vital programs for the tribe, such as TERO office, Summer Youth Employment Program, Talking Leaves Job Corps, Adult Education Program, vocational training, TANF, call center, vocational rehabilitation, on-the-job training, career readiness, recovery program and more.

Through these programs, CNCS holds true to its mission to develop and encourage individuals to achieve and maintain work habits and skills that promote employability and self-sufficiency through programs encompassing education, training, rehabilitation, supportive services and economic development.