Kalyn Free

Kalyn Free is an American attorney, former political candidate, and a tribal citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Free was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma.[1] Free is a graduate of Red Oak High School, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law.[2] After she graduated from law school, she began her legal career with the United States Department of Justice. She was the youngest attorney ever hired by the DOJ. At DOJ, Free prosecuted federal environmental laws across the country with a special emphasis on tribal lands.

In 1998, she ran for and became the first woman and the first Native American ever to be elected District Attorney in Pittsburg and Haskell counties of Oklahoma. During her administration, she focused her efforts on fighting for women, children, and crime victim's rights.

In 2004, she was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the open House seat in the 2nd Congressional District, with the support of Emily's List, the Sierra Club, and 21st Century Democrats. She lost the nomination to the eventual general election winner, Congressman Dan Boren.[3] Following her 2004 bid for Congress Free was fined $10,000 by the Federal Election Commission for making excessive salary payments to Free.[4]

Recent work

In 2005 Free established a political action committee devoted to electing Native American progressive candidates at the local and state level, INDN's List (Indigenous Native Democratic Network).[5] The NDN list closed in 2010.

Throughout 2011 Free worked as the attorney and senior adviser of Bill John Baker's campaign for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation against the incumbent Chief, Chad "Corn-tassel" Smith.[6] Free again served as senior advisor on Baker's successful re-election in June 2015. Currently, Free represents Baker as his Special Counsel.[7]

Free is the author of "Why? Rising to the Challenge" in Voices of the Heartland where she describes her career and struggles as a Native American.

Personal life

Free has been married to Steve Bruner since 2009.[8]

Free has an interest in Japan and has represented the United States on trips to Japan sponsored by the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

See also

References
  1. "Kalyn Free, Steve Bruner wed in Tulsa ceremony". McAlester News-Capital. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  2. "Kalyn Free, Steve Bruner wed in Tulsa ceremony". McAlester News-Capital. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  3. "The New Members of the House". Roll Call. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. "Former Oklahoma candidate fined $10K". Oklahoman.com. December 20, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  5. city-sentinel.com https://city-sentinel.com/2010/12/oklahoma%E2%80%99s-kalyn-free-closes-indn%E2%80%99s-list-saying-%E2%80%9Cyakoke%E2%80%9D-thank-you/. Retrieved December 3, 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Writer, TEDDYE SNELLStaff. "Commission warns about Cherokee campaign donations". Tahlequah Daily Press. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. Brian Daffron (October 27, 2012). "Post-INDN's List, Kalyn Free Continues to Shape Native Election Process - Indian Country Media Network". Indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  8. "Kalyn Free, Steve Bruner wed in Tulsa ceremony". McAlester News-Capital. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.