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TAHLEQUAH, OK - James Garland Eagle, Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO), formally filed as a candidate for Principle Chief on Monday, February 1, the opening day of the filing period. The period for legally filing to run for office in the CNO's May election goes through February 10.

Tracey Gourd, Byrd's administrative assistant, said that Eagle's bid for chief was not a surprise as it had been rumored for several weeks and added, "the chief wishes him good luck."

As of yet no others have formally filed for the office of Principle Chief but a few have publicly announced their intentions to run for the office. The present Principle Chief, Joe Byrd, has not yet announced his intentions.

Chad Smith, an attorney, historian, and former tribal administrator; Pat Ragsdale, the former head of the CNO's Tribal Marshal Service; Meredith Frailey, who was the president and marketing director of CNO Industries; and Virginia Stroud, a Cherokee artist, have all publicly announced their intentions to run Principle Chief of the Nation.