After serving for three years as the Congressional Budget Analyst, Eli was elected to the Osage Nation Congress in June of 2018. Eli was introduced to Osage government through his mother, National Councilwoman Cheryl R. Potts, who served on the National Council in the mid 1990’s. She taught him the importance of hard work and how it is one’s civic duty to be involved in government.
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, were blessed with their first daughter in May of 2018, Elinor Elizabeth Potts.
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.
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 and Government where he is in his 10th year of service. He and his wife are active members of First Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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, were blessed with their first daughter in May of 2018, Elinor Elizabeth Potts.
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.
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 and Government where he is in his 10th year of service. He and his wife are active members of First Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.