Eli Potts was raised to recognize that when his Nation is in need, it is his duty and responsibility to respond. Now is that time, and so he is announcing his candidacy for a seat on the Osage Nation Congress.  Eli was introduced to Osage government through his mother, National Councilwoman Cheryl R. Potts, as a young boy in the mid 1990’s. Since that time, he has trained for the position he seeks.

 

Eli’s grandfather, Arthur Lee Potts, and his great-grandmothers Frances Marie “Fannie” Rogers Potts Roberts, and Agnes Drum Rogers (We-heh), a full-blood Osage original allottee, are from the Grayhorse district. Agnes Drum Rogers (We-heh) was the oldest of four children from mother, Mary (Gray) Drum (He-ah-to-me) and father, Charles Drum (Wah-tsa-ki-he-kah). Her younger brother, Charles Drum, Jr., relocated to California, where his descendants remain connected with their Osage communities and Oklahoma family.  Eli was raised in Sand Springs, Oklahoma and now resides in Tulsa.  He and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Ann Potts, are expecting their firstborn in early June 2018.

 

An Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship recipient, Eli was awarded an Associate of Arts degree from Tulsa Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 2013, and a Master of Public Administration degree in 2015, both from the University of Oklahoma. During that time, he was chosen to work directly under University President David L. Boren, where he taught democracy labs and encouraged civic engagement among students.

 

Eli has been employed by state and tribal governments since his graduation.  In 2014, he started a successful political consulting firm which focuses on getting grassroots candidates elected to state and tribal offices.  Since 2015, Eli has been employed by the Osage Nation as the Congressional Budget Analyst.

 

Eli values the role of public service.  During college, he served in the Office of Congressman Dan Boren in the United States House of Representatives and sought election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010 as one of the youngest candidates in state history.  He is currently serving as the President of the Board of Youth In Government where he is in his 10th year of service. He and his wife are active members of First Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.