Meet the 2023 Catawba Nation Election Nominees: Jason Harris
"Together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous future for the Catawba Tribe — with a mission to preserve our culture, protect our sovereignty, and ensure a brighter future for our nation."
Update (May 10, 2023): This and other articles has been updated to reflect the title of “nominee” rather than “candidate”. Sources from the Catawba Nation Longhouse have advised that the final list of candidates may not be available until late May 2023.
Editor's Note: Catawba Future is publishing these statements word for word as received through our Catawba Nation Election Candidate Survey - no edits have been made. Our goal is to provide transparent insight directly to Catawba Citizens from Catawba Nation election nominees independent of the Catawba Nation tribal government. The nominee responses have been verified by phone to ensure they are straight from the source. The responses of the candidates represent their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of the Catawba Future team. This article is not intended nor should be interpreted to endorse any specific nominee or candidate.
Jason Harris is the third and final nominee for the office of Chief to respond to our survey. Check out his responses to our questions below:
What is the most important issue for your platform in this election?
Preserve our culture. Protect our sovereignty. Ensure a brighter future for our nation. As a candidate for Chief of the Catawba Nation, I believe that the most important issue facing our community is the need for sustainable economic development. For far too long, our tribe has struggled with limited financial resources, which has hampered our ability to provide critical services to our Citizens and pursue important initiatives that could improve our community's quality of life. I am committed to developing a comprehensive economic development plan that will create new opportunities for job growth and generate revenue that can be reinvested in our community. Specifically, I plan to focus on expanding our gaming operations, developing new businesses that can thrive in our region, and pursuing grant opportunities that can support our tribe's critical needs. By doing so, I believe we can build a strong and vibrant economy that will benefit all Citizens of our tribe for generations to come.
What do you believe qualifies you to be elected for this position?
Experience. Knowledge. Relationships.
As a Citizen of the Catawba Nation — who resides on the Reservation — I believe that my deep understanding of our community and its needs, combined with my extensive experience in tribal government, make me uniquely qualified to serve as Chief.
Throughout my career in tribal government (as Assistant Chief, Secretary/Treasurer, and a member of the EC), I have worked tirelessly to develop policies that have strengthened our government's operations and secured critical funding for our tribe. I have experience working with federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Indian Health Service, which has given me valuable insight into how to navigate complex bureaucracies to achieve meaningful results for our community.
I have also been deeply involved in the development and implementation of our tribe's economic development initiatives. From my work in expanding our grant portfolio to my leadership in securing gaming rights for our tribe, I have shown that I am committed to building a strong and sustainable economy that benefits all Citizens in our community.
Overall, I believe that my experience, passion, and dedication to our community make me the right choice for Chief of the Catawba Nation. I am committed to serving our tribe with integrity, honesty, and transparency, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that our government is responsive to the needs of all our Citizens.
What do you feel you can do for the Catawba Tribe?
Deliver meaningful results.
As Chief of the Catawba Nation, I will draw upon my years of experience serving in various roles within the Tribal Administration to continue building a strong and transparent government that serves the best interests of our Citizens. I will prioritize economic development and work tirelessly to secure more opportunities for our Citizens to succeed and thrive, including expanding our gaming operations and exploring other forms of business development.
As for delivering meaningful results, I’m asking for people to look at my record, not just promises of what I would *like* to do — but what I’ve actually done. One specific example I would point to is that we recently created a death benefit of $5,000 to our Citizens that will roll out in August.
As for ongoing projects, I have been working on creating a tribal credit union over the last several months — a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As Assistant Chief, I have already begun discussions with the Department of Treasury to initiate the process. My goal with this initiative is to provide low-interest loans to those who may be over income, as well as educate our community on different financial vehicles to help build generational wealth. Additionally, I believe it's important to reevaluate our Housing Program to ensure it meets the needs of our elderly, disabled, and low-income members.
In terms of our gaming efforts, we have already secured Gaming rights under a compact with the Governor of NC, and our focus now is on capitalizing on other gaming opportunities within the next few years. However, it's important to also be aware of threats to our market and have a strong SWOT analysis to protect our economy for the next 7 generations. As Assistant Chief, I understand the moves we need to make to ensure our community's economic success, and have built unshakable relationships over several years that are invaluable to delivering these results.
I am deeply committed to preserving our culture and heritage and ensuring that our voice is heard in local, state, and federal policy discussions that affect our tribe. Overall, my goal as Chief is to lead with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to serving the needs of our community.
What steps would you take to build Citizen trust in Catawba institutions?
Transparency and communication.
Building Citizen trust in Catawba institutions is a critical component of a strong and effective government. To achieve this, I would work to increase transparency and communication with our Citizens. I have already shown my willingness to be transparent by doing videos to inform our Citizens and I will continue to do those when elected as Chief.
This includes regular updates on government activities and ensuring that our Citizens have access to information about important decisions that affect the community. I would also encourage more opportunities for members to engage with their government, including town hall meetings and other community events. Additionally, I would work to build strong relationships with our Citizens by listening to their concerns and working to address them in a timely and effective manner.
What do you believe is the best way for the Executive Committee to stay in touch with Catawba Citizens?
Communication and engagement.
The best way for the Executive Committee to stay in touch with Catawba Citizens is through regular communication and engagement. This includes utilizing social media, email newsletters, and other digital platforms to provide updates on government activities and upcoming events. I would also encourage the use of town hall meetings and community events to allow for in-person engagement with our members. Additionally, it is essential to listen to feedback from our members and work to address their concerns in a timely and effective manner.
What's one policy or project you would work to implement during your time in office?
Expand the gaming operation = More money distributions from the casino to tribal citizens = College education scholarship up to $15,000 per student = Tribal housing opportunities = Expanded Health Care Access, to help pay for extreme health emergencies that plague our Senior population and those with special needs.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is actually an indigenous dish that I have fixed for many years: Fried corn.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas with your readers. If elected as Chief of the Catawba Nation, I am committed to serving our community with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to the needs of our members. Together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous future for the Catawba Tribe — with a mission to preserve our culture, protect our sovereignty, and ensure a brighter future for our nation.
Sounds like a well paid for speech. Obama worthy.