July 19, 2010 –
MAYETTA:U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., who is leaving the U.S. Senate to run for Kansas governor, made a campaign stop today at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) where he visited with the Tribal Council and others in Council chambers.
Brownback is running against Joan Heffington, Derby, in the August Republican primary and the winner of that race will face Tom Holland, a Democratic candidate from Baldwin City, Kan. in the November election.
Brownback has been pushing the passage of a Native American Apology Resolution that he introduced before the United States Congress in 2004 with former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. Last October a version of the resolution did pass the Senate and President Obama signed the resolution into law as part of another appropriations bill on December 19. To date, however, there has not been any public acknowledgment of the apology from the President which is spelled out as part of the apology resolution. Brownback did discuss the resolution today with the PBPN as well as other issues that members in the group brought forth. Following the meeting a reception was held for employees and tribal members.
Brownback was raised in Linn County, Kan. and has been a U.S. Senator since 1996. Before that he was a congressman, attorney, radio broadcaster, teacher and administrator. He graduated from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas Law School.