HOMINY VILLAGE, Okla. – In his first campaign run for Osage Nation Congress, William Kemble hosted an afternoon meal here where he shared details about his background and interests in seeking legislative office.
Kemble spoke to a crowd of about 50 on April 14 after Osage Minerals Council Chairman Everett Waller introduced him. “What we want is your support for this young man,” he said before delivering the meal prayer and Kemble spoke afterward.
Born and raised in Hominy, Kemble lives in Skiatook and holds two degrees from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in accountancy. He has 15-plus years of experience in the accounting/ auditing sector and served two years as ON Treasurer (2010-2012) and serves on the Ponca Tribe’s Gaming Enterprise Board since 2020.
Kemble worked for an accounting firm in Oklahoma City where he gained work experience and took an opportunity to work for the former Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino when it was setting up its accounting systems. “Throughout that time I was there, we had a purchasing issue, I had to go around to every one of the casinos, and really what that was, was ‘let’s communicate with one another, let’s figure this out together, let’s push through, let’s resolve the problem together,’” Kemble said.
During his tenure as Treasurer, Kemble said: “I did my best, tried to be as honest as possible … I had some issues there, separation of powers, which has since been ruled upon by the Attorney General and Judicial Branch to say ‘hey, there is supposed to be separation of powers there’ and I was really glad to see that.”
Afterward, Kemble went back to public accounting because “I like to serve, I like to explain financials to the people that are there, and I’ve been there ever since (at two firms) … I couldn’t help but think I could be doing this for my own people. Over these last few years, we got ARPA funds, stimulus money and everybody’s been wondering ‘where is it going?’ and I have my own questions I’d like to have answered and reported so everybody would know.”
Referring to his children, Kemble said “it’s because of these guys here that I want to get involved (and ask) ‘where are we at financially? Internally, infrastructure-wise? How strong are we really?’ Sometimes it takes somebody going to that table when everyone else just wants to sit there and say ‘what do you think?’ I’ve always been that guy to say ‘I’ll put something out there first,’ and I’ll defend my ideas and if you don’t think that you’re able to do it, we can work on it together. You’re going to teach me things I don’t know.”
In closing, Kemble asked people “look around at every one of the candidates, look at them and who do you see yourself in? Who do you see yourself in how you want to be? Even your children when you look at them. Who represents them?”
