6 more file for candidacy in Nov. 15 Lumbee Tribal election

Sep. 2—PEMBROKE — Six more people filed for candidacy Thursday and Friday in the Nov. 15 Lumbee Tribal election bringing the final ballot count to 15.

The election is scheduled for Nov. 15 and one seat each is up for grabs in districts 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13.

District 6

James V. Locklear

James V. Locklear, 54, is a candidate for the District 6 Tribal Council seat.

He is the editor and publisher of Native Visions Magazine. He is one of the region's ranking newsmen with nearly 30 years of experience and also publishes the nation's largest privately owned Indian print publication, Native Visions Magazine, according to information submitted to The Robesonian.

He said he decided to run for the District 6 Tribal Council seat after much prayer and consultation with his wife. He describes himself as a "Servant of the People."

"I believe in helping others," Locklear said. "I grew up in poverty in the Wakulla community near Red Springs and I had many people help me along the way. It has been my life's mission to give back to others and help others, especially those in similar circumstances from my upbringing."

Locklear has also worked with various organizations to bring attention to the issue of drug and opioid abuse, domestic violence and abuse of women and children, as well as missing and murdered Indigenous people. He is also a former member of the Domestic Violence Board of Directors, where his wife still serves. He also started the Missing and Indigenous People's Day program three years ago and has worked on dozens of other community projects throughout his career.

He said he wants to tackle these issues as well as addressing issues for elders and veterans and others including housing, housing rehabilitation, high school dropout rate, teen pregnancy, suicide and helping local students with college assistance.

He said full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe is one of the most important issues facing the tribe.

Locklear has been married to the former Mary Thomas of Lumberton for more than 26 years. Mary Thomas-Locklear is the Chief Human Resource Officer for Robeson Health Care Corporation. She has worked there for nearly 35 years.

The Locklears are members of Pleasant Meadow Missionary Baptist Church. They live on Highway 710 near Pembroke and have lived in District 6 since they were married. They have two daughters, Samaria, 34, and Vincea, 22, and four grandchildren.

Locklear suffered a massive heart attack on Dec. 9, 2019 while pulling an elderly couple from a wrecked vehicle in Lumberton. He was hospitalized for 10 days and has since made a full recovery.

He credits his recovery to his faith in God.

"He gave me a second chance," Locklear said. "Many people don't get a second chance. I want to do all I can to continue to do His Will. I thank God for everything."

Locklear has been publishing for nearly 20 years and has started three other publications in a journalism career that has stretched for nearly 30 years.

He got his start in journalism in the summer of 1993 and has since worked for the Red Springs Citizen, the St. Pauls review, The Robesonian and the Fayetteville Observer before starting a weekly newspaper, The Robeson Journal.

Locklear is now a correspondent for Indian Country Today and continues to contribute to the Fayetteville Observer and WTVD as a correspondent. He has worked for the Observer for 27 years. He is also a freelance photographer and has owned a photography business for more than 40 years.

District 12

Josephine Chavis-Doss "Jo"

Josephine Chavis-Doss "Jo," a native of Scotland County, filed Thursday for the District 12 seat currently held by incumbent Shelley Strickland.

Chavis-Doss is retired Patient Care coordinator of nursing facility and she "still has that passion and zeal as she works in her community, county and church," according to biographical information submitted to The Robesonian. Chavis-Doss in known as having a "servant's heart for others" and "puts her love in action as she serves the needs of people." Her love action goes along with Galatians 5:13 ... "serve another in love," her biographical information reads.

She is a faithful member of the Gray Pond Baptist Church where she a Sunday school teacher, local missions director and food bank organizer. She is a "mission-minded lady" and has proven that through various mission trips.

She enjoys meeting people and rarely meets a stranger. She said her passion is advocating for the elders, veterans and mental health and substance abuse awareness.

Chavis-Doss is married to Robert Doss and has three children and a host and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her favorite hobbies include shopping and enjoying family gatherings.

Shelley Strickland

Incumbent Shelley Strickland, also filed Thursday for reelection into the District 12 seat.

Strickland, 61, is married to Pam and has two children, Seth and Velicity and five grandchildren.

His goal if reelected is to support full federal recognition, Strickland told The Robesonian Friday.

"It's time for discrimination to end and for recognition to begin," Strickland said.

"Since my term, I have brought a powwow to Scotland County, and built an elders site which includes 10 houses and a community building," he added.

Strickland said he is working toward future renovations of the Maxton Mill Pond, future culture classes and pushing the tribe to purchase land to build a home subdivision or apartments in Maxton.

"I'm looking to put a memorial as the Maxton Mill Pond to commemorate the attempted takeover of KKK in 1958," Strickland said.

Strickland said he hopes to establish a public service memorial to be placed at the Tribal Administration Complex.

"Let's keep district 12, which includes Scotland County, Maxton and Affordsville, moving forward to next generation for years to come," Strickland stated.

Terry Locklear

Terry Locklear is also seeking the District 12 seat. He filed on Friday but did not submit biographical information to The Robesonian.

District 13

James Hardin

James Hardin filed Friday for the District 13 seat on the tribal council, held by Ricky Burnette. Burnette also filed for reelection.

Hardin is the former executive of the urban Indian center, Cumberland County Association for Indian People in Fayetteville. He is currently the chief executive officer of the Lumbee Regional Development Association and has more than 40 years of experience in both urban and tribal social and economic development state and federal programs, and their operations.

Hardin has formerly served as the deputy tribal administrator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He previously served as the Southeastern-area vice president of the National Congress of American Indian, a federal- and state-recognized tribal advocacy and lobbying organization in Washington, D.C.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Pembroke State University (1974), and received his master's in Public Administration from UNCP in 2011.

Larry Edwards Jr.

Larry Edwards Jr. also filed Friday for the available District 13 seat.

Edwards is an agriculture education teacher and FFA advisor at Purnell Swett High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Mount Olive as well as his master's degree from NC A&T State University. Edwards has taught both middle school and high school agricultural education in eastern North Carolina for the past nine years and worked in agriculture for more than 15 years,

He was raised in both Cumberland and Sampson counties, where he remains active in both the Lumbee and Coharie tribal communities.

As a member of the University of Mount Olive Alumni Board, he is a "strong" advocate for youth development and progress in agriculture. As an advocate for native youth, Edwards has coordinated and taught several Native American Youth agricultural camps at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, as well as conducted Native Agriculture workshops at North Carolina Native Youth Organization's annual conference.

Edwards continues to hold leadership roles in the professional organization of the NC Agriculture Educators and has partnered with completed projects and held leadership roles in NC Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Rancher Committee over the years.

Edward's vision is "to serve the native community in a way that stimulates progress and influences the advancement of native people."

Tomeka Sinclair can be reached at tsinclair@robesonian.com or 910-416-5865.