Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH - This is the first time electronic voting devices were used by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO). The elections were monitered by the Carter Center of Atlanta. Only about half of the Cherokee citizens registered to vote, 13,000 out of 26,000, cast votes. The Cherokee Nation is the second largest American Indian Tribe with 200,000 citizens, second only to the Navajo Nation.

Joe Byrd and Bill John Baker will be facing Chad Smith and Hasting Shade in the CNO run-off elections. The runoff election is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 1999.

According to Linda Turnbull-Lewis, spokesperson for the Chad Smith campaign, among those who have pledged their support for the Smith/Shade ticket are; Wilma Mankiller, Pat Ragsdale, Paula Holder and Meridith Frailey.

Chief/Deputy Chief Run-Off Elections:

(Byrd/Baker ticket)
Joe Byrd, Tahlequah, *** 4,140, *** 31.58% (Current Chief)
Bill John Baker, Tahlequah, *** 3,533, *** 26.98%
[**Note: Baker was a council member - Byrd loyalist: Filed for reelection
to council, then later refiled to run for Deputy Chief on Byrd ticket.]

(Smith/Shade ticket)
Chad Smith, Tulsa, *** 2,535, *** 19.33%
Hastings Shade, Hulbert, *** 3,579, *** 27.33%

Election Results for Chief:

Joe Byrd, Tahlequah *** 4,140 votes *** 31.58%
Chad Smith, Tulsa *** 2,535 votes *** 19.33%
Pat Ragsdale, Muskogee *** 2,162 votes *** 16.49%
Dwight Birdwell, Stilwell *** 1,909 votes *** 14.56%
Meredith Frailey, Locust Grove *** 1,444 votes *** 11.01%
James "Garland" Eagle, Stilwell *** 453 votes *** 3.46%
Maxie Thompson, Rose *** 223 votes *** 1.70%
Haskell Murphy, Tahlequah *** 137 votes *** 1.04%
Virginia Stroud, Tahlequah *** 108 votes *** .82%

Election Results for Council:

Council Dist. 1 - Cherokee County
   John Ketcher, * Tahlequah * 20.67% (former Deputy Chief)
   Don Crittenden, * Tahlequah * 19.70% (Byrd supporter)

Council Dist. 2 - Adair County
   Harrold "Jiggs" Phillips, * Westville * 24.50%
   Jackie Bob Martin, * Stilwell * 23.12%

Council Dist. 3 - Sequoyah County
   Mary Flute-Cooksey, * Marble City * 40.93% (Byrd Supporter)
   David W. Thornton, Sr., * Vian * 28.12%

Council Dist. 4 - McInstosh/Muskogee Counties
   Don Garvin, * Muskogee * 33.75%
   Teasie McCrary, Jr., * Warner * 29.22%
   (Don Garvin and Teasie McCrary, Jr. - Runoff)

Council Dist. 5 - Delaware County
   Melvina Shotpouch, * Jay * 20.51%
   Barbara Starr-Scott, * Jay * 18.73%

Council Dist. 6 - Mayes County
   Stephanie Buffalomeat, * Pryor * 16.18%
   Johnny Keener, * Salina * 15.88%

Council Dist. 7 - Rogers County
   Harold DeMoss, * Claremore * 31.62%
   James B. Hammett, * Claremore * 27.32%
   (Harold DeMoss and James B. Hammett - Runoff)

Council Dist. 8 - Tulsa/Washington Counties
   Nick Lay, * Ochelata * 32.95%
   Dorothy McIntosh, * Ochelata * 25.40%

Council Dist. 9 - Craig County
   Charles Hoskin, * Vinita * 63.52% (Byrd supporter)
   Rodney Lay, * Lenapah * 36.48%