Candidacy Announcement for David Conrad

On Thursday April 1st 2010, I filed as a candidate for the Osage Nation Congress.  I filed because I believe we must continue to build on the positive achievements of the Osage Nation under our new form of government, and as best we can, turn away from the cynicism and negative thinking that has held us back.  I will base my campaign, and I hope others will join me, on the following areas:

Vision
The Osage Nation has many historical achievements that demonstrate the vision of our past Osage leadership.  We have also reached out to the Osage people through the 25-year strategic planning process to guide us further.  Now it is up to a new generation of Osages to step up and integrate our historical achievements with our current citizen-driven vision into a workable and fair system of governance.

Osage Nation legislators must build the necessary legal foundation for our government to function effectively.  Osage Nation legislators must open up their decision-making process and invite citizen, neighbor, and expert testimony.  The Osage Nation Congress must embrace the use of the best available technology to make their decision-making process more transparent.  The Osage Nation Congress must pass a law enacting a system of district voting based on current census data.  Without making Congressional members accountable to a defined electorate, we will see escalating election costs and less accountability.  And finally Osage Nation legislators must demonstrate the judgment and discipline to focus on drafting and passing good legislation.

Experience
Throughout my educational and professional career I have been aware of and/or engaged with legislative decision-making bodies.  I have worked with boards of directors, tribal councils, city councils, state legislatures, the U.S. Congress, and the Osage Nation Congress.  And although this is my first experience running for an elected office, my experience interacting with legislators from an executive point of view will allow me to serve as a valuable asset to our Congress in bridging the gap in accommodating multiple perspectives and adopting good law.

Commitment
I am committed to the betterment of the Osage Nation, and enriching the lives of Osage people.  I have worked across the country for the betterment of Indian country, tribal organizations, and tribes, and during that time have always shared good ideas and opportunities with Osages and Osage programs back home.  I was honored to join the Administration of Principal Chief Jim Gray, an honor I accepted gladly although I did not know what that commitment would truly entail.  My experience in the Gray Administration has been an opportunity to bring the knowledge and experience I have gained back to our people.  I decided to run for Congress because I felt it has been the weakest link in our progress, and I hope to strengthen this new institution in ways I feel the other candidates could not.

Osage News 2010 Osage Candidate Questionnaire

Name: David F. Conrad

Age:  43

Osage Name:  Wa-kon-To-Ki-E

Residence: Bartlesville, OK and Richland, WA

Martial status:  Married

Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  Two Boys Enrolled Osage

Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages?  Not yet

Education: BA, Political Science, MS Environmental Policy and Administration

Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government:  Grad Student Intern, Dept of Energy—HQ; Policy Analyst, Nez Perce Tribe; Program Director, CERT; Tribal and State Legislative Liaison, City of Seattle; Executive Director, NTEC; Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Osage Nation.

General/ Professional experience: Energy, Environmental, Economic Development, Natural Resources, and Cultural Resources Policy

Do you support per capita payments? No.

Do you support the Nation’s reservation status suit? Absolutely.

Does the Minerals Estate belong to the shareholders or the Osage Nation? The Osage Nation.

Do you support the Osage Language program?  Yes, I wish I could do more.

If elected what is your main focus once taking the oath of office? Strengthening our legal foundation/institutions, districting, and opening up the legislative process through the use of technology.

What’s your favorite movie?  I have too many favorites, but I most recently want to see Black Dynamite.