Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2003 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The filing period for Cherokee Nation elections in 2003 closed Wednesday at 5 p.m., with 63 candidates filing to fill the Cherokee Nation’s 17 elected offices.Four candidates filed to run for the office of Principal Chief, including current Principal Chief Chad “Corntassel” Smith, Robin Carter Mayes, Joe Byrd and L.S. Fields.
Four candidates filed to run for the office of Deputy Chief, including current Deputy Chief Hastings Shade, Joe Grayson, Jr., John Cornsilk, and Gary D. Chapman
14 candidates filed to run for the two Tribal Council seats for District One, which is made up of Cherokee County. The candidates include incumbent Don “Chief” Crittenden, Billy Heath, Bill John Baker, Barbara Dawes Martens, Audra Smoke-Connor, Ricky D. Gassaway, Roger Barr, Ron Qualls, Billy R. McCoy, Freddie Ferrell, Jr., Brian R. Berry, Art Floyd, Harley L. Terrell and Teresa Tackett.
Incumbent John Ketcher is not seeking re-election.
Ten candidates filed to run for the two Tribal Council seats in District Two, which is made up of Adair County. The candidates include incumbents Jackie Bob Martin and Ralph Keen, Jr., James “Garland” Eagle, Mary Adair, Trina L. Rector-Burdge, Woodrow “Woody” Proctor, Tom A. Cochran, S. Joe Crittenden, Billie J. Drywater Fain and Joe Harold Bunch.
Five candidates filed to run for the two Tribal Council seats in District Three, which is made up of Sequoyah County. Candidates include incumbents David Thornton and Mary Flute-Cooksey, Edith Locust, Sam Ed Bush, Jr. and Phyllis Yargee.
Five candidates filed to run for the Tribal Council seat in District Four, which is made up of Muskogee, Wagoner and McIntosh counties. Candidates include incumbent Don Garvin, Jack E. “Bo” Highers, Gary Carey, Sr., Calvin Rock and Cherokee Jewel Hicks.
Six candidates filed to run for the two Tribal Council seats in District Five, which is made up of parts of Delaware and Ottawa counties. Candidates include incumbent Melvina Shotpouch, Linda Hughes O’Leary, Jimmy “Jim” Thompson, Quannah Blackwood, John Stevenson and Barbara Conness Foreman. Incumbent Barbara Starr-Scott is not seeking re-election.
Six candidates filed to run for the two Tribal Council seats in District Six, which is made up of Mayes County. Candidates include incumbents Johnny Keener and Stephanie Wickliffe Shepherd, as well as David J. Standingwater, Robert Backward, Meredith A. Frailey and Shorty Cooper.
Three candidates filed to run for the Tribal Council seat in District Seven, which is made up of Rogers County. Candidates include incumbent Harold DeMoss, Cara Cowan and Faron Ray Charles.
Four candidates filed to run for the two Tribal Council seats in District Eight, which is made up of Washington County and northern Tulsa County. Candidates include incumbents Buel Anglen and Nick Lay, as well as William G. “Bill” Johnson and Anita McSpadden Boone.
Two candidates filed to run for the Tribal Council seat in District Nine, which is made up of Craig and Nowata counties. The candidates are incumbent Charles “Chuck” Hoskin and Robert P. (Bob) McSpadden.
The deadline for voter registration or precinct changes is March 3. Voters can request absentee ballots from the Cherokee Nation Election Commission between now and April 11.
The Cherokee Nation general election will be held on May 24, with a run-off, if necessary, scheduled for July 26.
Tribal leaders elected in either the general election or the run-off will begin their 4-year term of office with a swearing-in ceremony on August 14.
For more information, contact the Cherokee Nation Election Commission, phone: 918-458-5899 or 1-800-353-2895, or visit their web site.
Related contact information:
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma |