Cara Cowan Watts will seek re-election June 25 for District 5 council Seat number two.


Cara is honored to serve on Council and hopes to continue her work locally and nationally on behalf of the Cherokee Nation.


“My eight years on Tribal Council has been an honor,” Cara said.  “I would like to continue giving back to the Cherokee Nation by fighting for water quality and water rights in addition to strengthening our Tribal presence within Tulsa and Rogers Counties.”


Since Cowan Watts took office in 2003, Rogers County Cherokees have held more than 90 regular community meetings, began regular public cultural days, established a non-profit organization and built an eight-acre cultural ground for stickball and a complete community building.


Cara is an active member of the Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization, Victory Cherokee Organization, Rogers County Cherokee Association and Oklahoma Professional Chapter of AISES with more than 175 community meetings attended or held.


Cara says, “I will continue to work hard every day to help Cherokees realize their dreams of well paying jobs, affordable housing, healthcare and educational opportunities.”


Cara has represented the Cherokee Nation since 2004 on the Claremore Indian Hospital Advisory Board and serves as Chair.  National Indian health commitments include an appointment to the American Indian Alaska Native Health Research Advisory Committee representing Cherokee interests in establishing research priorities for Native health care which she Chairs.


“I am proud of our accomplishments as a Nation, but we cannot stand idle,” Cowan Watts said.  “There is much work to be done to ensure every Cherokee has the opportunity to pursue a career path which guarantees their family economic self-reliance with jobs in the Cherokee Nation.”


Cara has been working with schools and students across the tribe to strengthen math and science skills by creating K-12 AISES chapters. For more than eleven years, she has operated an email list dedicated to providing scholarship, internship and job opportunities to students and professionals.


Locally, Cowan Watts is a member of the Claremore Rotary Club and the Cherokee Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club.


While serving on Cherokee Nation Enterprises’ Board of Directors as a non-voting member, Cowan Watts pushed for the Jobs Growth Act which mandates significant gaming dollars be spent on job creation and voted to increase the minimum wage.


Cara has a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, masters in telecommunications management and is doctorial candidate in biosystems engineering focused on addressing numerical nutrient water quality standards for the Cherokee Nation.


Cara lives in Verdigris with Doug Watts, her husband of five years.  Doug is a successful personal business owner and Wyandotte Nation citizen.


To learn more about the Tribe and scholarships, join Cara’s email list, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.


Cara’s team invites citizens to her kick-off on Saturday, March 5, 2pm to 4pm, at Route 66 Nut House between Catoosa and Verdigris.


To contact Cara’s campaign, call 918-266-2011, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., write P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK 74018 and online www.caracowan.com, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.