The election slate for 2026 has been set for a couple of weeks now and I am posting today to announce my candidacy to run as your District 5 Legislator.

Pėtëgizhgokwé ndezhnëkas, anaké Lorrie Underwood nde zhnëkango. I am a proud Citizen Potawatomi member, residing in Colorado in District 5.

I have attended many past District 5 meetings and have always been inspired by mémégwékwé - Gene Lambert. She personally encouraged me to run for this position while I visited with her at one of those meetings a few years ago. She has truly left big shoes to fill and a standard for the next legislator to live up to. She served as a strong bridge between the membership of District 5 and our Citizen Potawatomi government and I look forward to the opportunity to serve as gracefully as she did.

I am a dedicated observer of the many members involved in the variety of CPN facebook groups and I see a repeat theme of members desiring community. I plan to advocate for more opportunities for District 5 members to experience community in ways that resonate with them on their personal level. I see many circumstances that would benefit by having advisory councils comprised of youth, elders, and other members of all ages and all social strata. 

I feel strongly that we Citizen Potawatomi members can greatly benefit from learning more deeply the values of our indian way of life and how these values can benefit our tribe in all areas. We, as a membership, can help that goal by learning these values and implementing them in our own lives, and holding our government to this standard with our vote.

As a Citizen Potawatomi member, I am pleased that our government regularly reports the financial success of our business ventures, and I would like to see that success trickle down to members in all districts in many ways including health awareness, education opportunities, membership success stories, the importance of learning and using our language, and gathering together to learn about, and deepen our indian way of life on each member's personal level.

I am committed to connecting with any and all of the wonderful members of our Citizen Potawatomi tribe, regardless of their district of residence. I hope to get to know any of you, and for you to come to know me. I will be honored to earn your vote.

Reach out to me over Facebook messenger, email me at petegizhgokwe@gmail.com, call or text me at 303-507-4393. I am happy to connect and communicate.

Igwiyen