LAWTON, Okla_After months of financial turmoil, the Comanche Nation is moving forward with a new business committee. After a record voter-turnout election on June 30th, the Comanche Nation has filled five of the seven seats on the committee. The election comes after the nation's bank accounts were frozen last month over the conflict within the Comanche Nation's government. Hundreds of employees and creditors could not be paid. The Nation said with a new committee and a new chairman, they are finally on the road to recovery.
Chairman Wallace Coffey said the tribe was finally able to start issuing checks on Wednesday. The first thing on their agenda is a plan to pay all of their creditors back by next Wednesday. Moving forward, his primary focus is going to be on strengthening the Comanche Nation's economy.
After 1665 members of the Comanche Nation voted for a change in the nation's business committee, Coffey said the nation can finally begin put to rest any doubts about its government.
"I think that their election process indicates that it's over. We don't want to focus on any negativity. We want nothing but positive elements and to move forward. I think our tribal membership is quite pleased."
Chairman Coffey was elected for his fifth term on June 2nd and although he's happy to be back, he admits it has been difficult. One of the hardest parts of this past few months was watching some of the tribal members most in need go without because of the frozen accounts.
"Child support payments have been held back. Water bills and electricity bills are no longer available and I know some people that have set without electricity for two weeks, this is going to change all that."
Although there are some struggles, the nation is still faring well with $18 million in revenue sharing amongst the tribe.
"We have the form of recreation of the water park. Our museum is doing a tremendous good in this community by attracting tourism. Our casinos are profiting and we think that those are revenue for us and entertainment to Southwest Oklahoma."
The Comanche Nation is the third largest employer in Southwest Oklahoma with an annual payroll of $25 million a year according to Coffey. They want to do even more. The next few months they'll be holding meetings about future development projects to bring both money and jobs to Southwest Oklahoma and the Comanche Nation.
"One of the things we want to focus on is our Red River Casino. We're looking at a hotel and convention center probably to accommodate 250 to 500 people. We are overlooking Wichita Falls as major source of revenue"
While we were talking, Chairman Coffey said he wanted to apologize to the public for any inconvenience the tribe's past troubles may have caused the community. He said he feels it's his responsibility to get things solved and he plans on doing just that.
The Comanche Nation still has two positions open on its business committee: a standard committee member position and secretary and treasurer position. The election for those seats will be on July 30th.
