Cherokee named state’s new Native American liaison

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Cherokee Nation citizen has been tapped to be Oklahoma’s next Native American liaison.

On Feb. 9, Gov. Mary Fallin announced via executive order that Chris Benge, a former state legislator from Berryhill, would be Oklahoma’s secretary of state and Native American affairs. The move accommodates Benge’s November 2013 appointment as secretary of state and is a promotion for the liaison position, making it officially part of the governor’s Cabinet.

The Native American liaison, established in 2011 after the state Legislature abolished the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor’s Office on tribal issues, including compacts and consultations between tribal governments and state agencies.

“Chris is a trusted member of my Cabinet and adviser on policy, economic and legislative issues,” Fallin said. “As secretary of state, he also deals with officials from other countries who visit Oklahoma and works with them on trade and other issues. He will now extend that same mission to our tribes, which have a valuable and unique impact on Oklahoma’s economy and our culture.”

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Benge served in the state House of Representatives from 1998 to 2010 and was Speaker of the House for the last three years of his term. After his 12 years in the state House, Benge was the director of intergovernmental and enterprise development for Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and most recently, a senior vice president for the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Whether it’s creating jobs, improving health care services or boosting education, Oklahoma has an extremely valuable partnership with the tribes,” Benge said. “The tribes have an estimated $10.8 billion impact in the state’s production of goods and services, with tribal government and business operations employing more than 50,000 people, and supporting nearly 90,000 full-time jobs in the state.

“The relationship between the tribes and the state has developed momentum over the last few years. I’m looking forward to continuing to facilitate the good relationship between the state and the tribes.”

Benge’s predecessor, Kaw Nation citizen Jacque Secondine Hensley, was appointed in July 2012. According to the Fallin administration, she has accepted a tribally focused position with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

On Feb. 10, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr., praised the appointment and expressed confidence in the tribe’s ability to work with one of its own citizens.

“The Cherokee Nation looks forward to working with Secretary of State Chris Benge in his expanded role as the liaison to tribal governments for the Governor’s Office,” he said. “He is a Cherokee citizen and truly understands how tribes positively impact Oklahoma economically and enrich our great state culturally. His experience as speaker of the House and his success in the private sector gives him credibility, and I know elected tribal leaders of sovereign governments will be respected and valued when meeting with him. We anticipate Chris Benge will be a great advocate for the Cherokee Nation and the other 37 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma.”

Republished with permission of the Cherokee Phoenix, www.cherokeephoenix.org