Native Vote

Grand Traverse Chairman Bailey Topic of Huffington Post

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN – Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Chairman Derek Bailey, who is running for Congress, is featured in a Huffington Post article this past weekend.

Bailey, 39, is seeking the Democratic nomination in Michigan's 1st District. Eight of the twelve federally American Indian tribes are based within the Congressional district lines.

The Huffington Post article is part of the "Off the Bus" series on political campaigns being published in this election year.

Chairman Derek Bailey

Written by blogger Gary Horn of "The Northern Michigan Democrat," Bailey is portrayed as a political outsider and newcomer to the Michigan Democratic Party's machinery in the article. While it may be true he is a newcomer to American politics per se, Bailey is well versed in how win campaigns. He was elected to the tribal council in 2004 and chairman of his tribe in 2008.

His open and transparent style of running the Tribe was noticed by non-Indians; many of whom encouraged him to run for Congress. Reaching out to all, a positive trait by Bailey, is mentioned in the Huffington Post article:

“I began to work with him on his campaign and found myself even more impressed by his character, his willingness to listen intently, and to respond to and work with everyone he met, whether independent, liberal or conservative. To me, that is the mark of a great politician,”

Judith Marie Clark of Traverse City, Michigan states for the article.

"As this primary election unfolds, they will have a chance to show just how much they want a representative who hasn't been compromised by outside influences, deal making or machine politics,"

writes Horn.

To read all of the article: www.huffingtonpost.com

posted April 3, 2012 8:30 am edt