Kissling gets attention of American Indians

Al Kissling might be way behind in the polls in his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., but he has the attention of American Indians.

The publication Indian Country Today, which dubs itself as “The nation’s leading American Indian news source,” is featuring Kissling in an article you can read by clicking here.

Though Kissling is trailing in the polls, the article states, “there’s plenty of time between now and election night, and in a district where Indian voters are numerous enough to make a difference, Kissling has developed a head for Indian affairs that could serve him well come November.”

Kissling, a retired Presbyterian minister, took an interim post in Gallup in 2000, before he retired. What stood out to him there was the effect of diabetes among Navajos, the article states. Kissling plans to make reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act a priority if elected.

The article focuses on Kissling’s pledge to support health care and education programs and the sovereignty of Indian nations.

“I feel strongly that Native Americans have not been fairly dealt with, and we need to be respecting that they were the first citizens and we are the immigrants, communicating as government-to-government on a lot of these issues,” the article quotes Kissling as saying.

Kissling pledged, if elected, to hire American Indians for his Washington staff, in addition to keeping one in New Mexico to serve as a liaison with tribes.