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From: The Robesonian January 31, 2004
Date: 31 Jan 2004
Time: 12:31:10 -0500
Remote Name: 172.138.63.248
JACOBS 'CLOSE' TO DECISION ON TRIBAL OFFER Mark Locklear, Staff Write, from interview with Leon Jacobs, Goins' nominee for Tribal Administrator of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Leon Jacobs said Friday he is "very close" to making a decision on whether to accept the position of tribal administrator with the Lumbee Tribal Government. The 21-member Tribal Council voted 12 to 9 to hire Jacobs during a special meeting Thursday (January 29). Jacobs currently serves as tribal manager of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut. "I am honored that the Tribal Council has shown confidence in my abilities and experiences in leadership to manage the administration of the emerging Tribal Government," Jacobs said from his Connecticut office. "The discussions are still in the preliminary stages," Jacobs siad, "but once they are finalized and my acceptance decision is made, I will be able to discuss more with the media and with the tribal membership concerning some of my goals and objectives that I think are important to the tribe." The 64-year-old Robeson County native said he is awaiting a written letter of confirmation from Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins. "From my govenmental experience, I like to deal with documentation," Jacobs said. "It's very important to get things in writing before you make a decision." Leon Jacobs said the Tribal Council's split vote to hire him will not affect his decision. Seven of the nine council members who voted against hiring him were new to the council. "Politics is politics," Jacobs said. "The fact that I didn't have all 21 members voting for me...who knows, they may have been voting against the process. However, I think I am good at helping bring resolution to decisive issues. If we come there, I will work for what is in the best interest of the tribe as a whole. "I want to improve the services to the tribal members and assure there will e open lines of communication with the membership." HOUSING EXPERIENCE Goins, who could ot be reached for this story, had fired Darlene Jacobs and hired Leon Jacobs on a consulting basis. But the Supreme Court rules that Goins didn't have that power and reinstated Darlene Jacobs, leading to the vote on Thursday by the Council. Goins said his wish to fire Darlene Jacobs was partly because of possible problems with the tribe's housing program. If he accepts the job, Leon Jacobs will bring more than 15 years of experience working with HUD, in addition to holding managerial positions with three other tribes. In l980, Jacobs was the first regional director of Native American programs at HUD's office in Chicago. In that position, he administered an annual $100 million budget to provide housing services to 75 Indian tribes. He left that position in l994 to become tribal manager of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut. He has served in that position for 8 years. Jacobs also served as tribal administrator of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Goins said previously in a statement that "Jacobs' knowledge of HUD regulations and operational requirements will greatly improve the management capabilities of the Tribal Government." Leon Jacobs said he will continue working as a consultant for the Lumbee Tribe until he announces his decision.