Principal Chief

Candidate, Missouri House of Representatives, District 150, 2008

Tribal Council Member, Western Cherokee Nation, 2001-2007

Tribal Council Speaker, Western Cherokee Nation, 2004-2007

Team Member, Family Preservation, 2004-present

Indigenous Representative/Board Member, Emergency Food & Shelter Program, 2003-present

Bureau of Indian Affairs Liaison, 2001-present

President, Western Cherokee - Missouri nonprofit corporation, 2007-present

Owner, Agriculture, 2000-present

Board Member, Western Cherokee - Missouri nonprofit corporation, 2001-2007

Owner, Specialty Furniture and Refinishing, 1992-1998

Chair/ Vice Chair, Pow Wow Committee, Western Cherokee Nation, 2004-present

Youth Leader, Youth Preservation Program, 2003-present

Youth Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Community, 2001-present

River and Stream Clean up, Community, 1998-present

Earned member, International Thespian Society, 1988-present

Earned member, National Forensics League (Debate and Speech Honor Society), 1988-present

Volunteer, Salem High School Football Program, 1989-2006

State Officer, Vocational Industrial Club of America, 1992-1993

Awards:

Missouri House of Representatives Resolution, Offered by Representative Frank Barnitz, 2002
Governor John Ashcroft, By Proclamation, 1992
Missouri Sate Senate Resolution # 862, Offered by Senator Lybyer, 1992
Missouri House of Representatives Resolution # 605, Offered by Representative Jerry E McBride, 1992.

Date of Wedding Anniversary:

September 1, 2001.

Father's Name:

James O. E. Ellis.

Father's Occupation:

Retired Mechanic.

Favorite President and Why:

Harry S. Truman ~ " I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell." What else needs said?

Favorite Quote:

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.
~ Harry S. Truman ~

Favorite Sport:

High School Football ( Go Big Blue ).

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Current River where it meets Big Creek.

First Car:

1972 four door Pea Green Chevy Impala.

First Job:

Floyds Charcoal - Royal Oak, Bagger/Stacker.

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Hobbies: Camping with my family, Hunting, Fishing, High School Football (Go Tigers), and lots of time spent with my family and friends .....
Talents, well it has been said the greatest gift god can give and that would be Communications, I guess he give me my share, I can talk to anyone, even when disagreeing with someone, it is done with Honor and Respect.

Mother's Name:

Susie Bailey.

Person Most Want to Meet (Dead or Alive):

My Great Grandmother Marry Ann Nash {Counts}, and My Grandmother Amanda Adeline Bailey {Nash}.

Personal Hero and Why:

I know it only asked for one hero, but I have two! My Mother is my first, she has shown what true love and sacrifice is by literally raising my two sisters, one brother and my self as a single parent! While growing up she was mom & dad all rolled up in one great package, My mother is my number one Hero ! Hero number two is my wife Shawna, it is her that allows my family to make the sacrifices we make in order to help all those we can, as we spend countless of hours doing volunteer work for some great causes, again she will be the light that shines as I make my way to the State Legislature, she is my sole inspiration when life gets the world down!

Pets (include names):

We have Biscuit our Dodson, Cloey our Great Pyrenees, Blaze one of our Paint Horses, Legend our other Paint horse, and last but not the least Ginger our ? Jersey ? Dairy Short horn, BTW the largest baby we have !

Priority Issues:

Health Care Reform

There are many Missouri Citizens who suffer because of the health care cuts of 2005, the residents of the 150th District are in the same position. It is my goal to reinstate the health care that is so badly needed. It is inhumane to make or allow others to suffer who can not help themselves.

Education / Education Funding

The 150th District which is located in one of the most impoverished areas in rural Missouri, should get its fair share of state tax dollars for our schools, however we do not. How are we to acquire better qualified educators with out proper compensation?

We hear we need to pay our educators, per their ability to teach. However, if the incentive is a wage equal or lower than one can make doing a minimal task job, why be placed in a position where you and or your family suffer? In short, regardless of location in the state, it is my goal that effective and good educators receive pay commensurate with their education and skills.

It is obvious that teachers do not teach for the money. They are in it for the love of learning. We need to be able to keep the good teachers we have and offer incentives for them to be in rural areas. It would be a bonus to be able to give additional stipends to the subject areas that are so difficult to find and retain such as math or science.

Welfare System / Department of Social Services

Like much other state ran programs, our current system in place is being abused not only by some of the recipients but by a fair amount of the department's social workers and administrators as well. It is my goal to make the legislature aware that these issues exist. It is another goal to makes sure that those who can not truly help themselves get the help that is greatly needed. Those who can help themselves to some extent are allowed to do so with out being punished or penalized for attempting to make a better life. Along with my goals I would like to attempt to revamp this system to protect the rights of those who need help from this system. One should not have to give up their rights in order to get help if they need it.

Veterans

Missouri Veterans are in need of our help and support in return for their dedication and sacrifice as they put their lives on the line for the very liberties and freedoms that we often take for granted. It is my goal to help bring more awareness to the needs of our Veterans; especially our Disabled Veterans. Missouri is one of the few states which requires Disabled Veterans to pay property tax. It is my goal to make exempt all disabled Veterans from paying property tax. It is my personal feeling that all disabled Veterans have earned the right to live in their homes without the worries that the county they live in will take their homes or other property if they can not afford to pay the taxes out of the little amount of funds they receive each month in compensation for serving their country and being severely injured in that service.

Land Owner / Property Rights

Those of us in Missouri who are fortunate enough to actually own land have to us a guaranteed right by Missouri and United States Constitution to own our land and or property with out the interference of governmental intrusion. It is my goal that each land owner will enjoy the right to his or her land and or property with out the hindrances of these intrusions and unnecessary regulations.

In conclusion I have listed my top five issues that I feel are vital. Much work and resolution is needed to make the proper changes and repairs. Once in Jefferson City it will be my goal to take each of these issues to the front line so they may be recognized in order to start the solution process.

Part of the solutions is more obvious than others. When dealing with the Veterans, it is my intent to introduce legislation to permanently exempt 100% disabled veterans from paying personal property taxes and real estate taxes on their primary residence or and/or farm(s), and to exempt all veterans with a disability rating of 50% or greater from paying real estate taxes on their primary residence or and/or farm(s).

While dealing with the health care reform it may be as simple to just introduce legislation that would rescind or overturn the infamous vote(s) of 2005, thus reinstating the health and medical care back to the 100,000 plus Missouri citizens who had it taken away. The legislation that I would introduce to bring a solution to this problem would bring accountability to both the recipients and physicians alike, to help reduce the abuse of the Medicaid system.

The current problems with how our welfare and or Department of Social Services is structured would lead me to have reason for great concern in the matter of how much state funding is being wasted along with the abuse of powers with in the system. Legislation needs be introduced to reform the current system so that those that have the ability to provide for them selves to some extent are allowed to do so with out fear of losing help when they need it the most. Legislation should also weed out those who are not in the greatest need that have proven they can provide for themselves sufficiently. New legislation would provide definite protection of the rights of those who need the help from this system and would start the restriction of the abuse of powers.

I would also introduce legislation that would bring equalization of Missouri education dollars back to rural Missouri to allow our children the same opportunities in receiving dollar for dollar education. This would also allow for our educators who help shape our children to better provide for their families, thus being the best incentive of all to better educate our children.

Property and land owner rights is quickly becoming one of the nations toughest issues to deal with, it is my goal to introduce legislation that will forever and effectively allow the Missouri and United States Constitutions to be the supreme voice in this issue.

I will make a stand for all the 150th district citizens in our time of need. I am not afraid of taking a stand for the protection of our rights. It is my feeling that our government should be held accountable to you, the people. I have listed the committees I wish to serve on once elected to help ensure these protections and services are implemented.

Ethics
Joint Committee on Government accountability
Rules
Special Committee on Rural Community Development
Appropriations Education
Ways and Means
Special Committee on Veterans

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

The Citizens of the 150th District feel it is time for a positive change, which will give true meaning to representation for our small little part of rural Missouri. Our current Representative is simply not effective for our District, Communities, Family or our Future. I can be that Representative, I will be that Representative, even if it takes a continuous campaign until November 2010, we will not concede!

Spouse's Occupation:

Wife, Mother and full time college student.