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badger
7/1/2011, 01:29 PM
Just in time to celebrate our freedoms as Americans, a sovereign tribal election for chief!

This past weekend, the challenger, Bill John Baker was declared the winner... 7600 to 7589. Yes, just 11 votes.

Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110626_11_0_TAHLEQ369127&archive=yes)

Because of the slim margin, the election board reviewed the disputed ballots... and then declared incumbent chief Chad Smith the winner... 7609 to 7602. Just seven votes now.

Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110627_11_0_TAHLEQ110259&archive=yes)

An emergency injunction was requested (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110629_12_A1_CUTLIN746831&archive=yes). Accusations of tampering (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20110629_12_0_ALQAhh780553&archive=yes) were made.

And then, overnight, Bill John Baker was again declared the winner... 7613 7347... now a margin of 266 votes.

Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110701_12_A1_ULNSel111636&archive=yes)

The tribe's supreme court just certified the recount results (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110630_11_0_TAHLEQ778391&archive=yes).

I am not Cherokee (the Delaware Tribe has many members who are both, however) but wow, what a week for them. I have the feeling this battle is long from over.

Midtowner
7/1/2011, 01:41 PM
Wouldn't the tribal court be the court of last resort? If not, Bush v. Gore is directly on point. You're entitled to due process, and in elections, once the vote/recount/whatever is certified, that's all the due process you get.

badger
7/1/2011, 02:02 PM
I think so. Sovereign nation means they're self governing, right?

If you check out some of the articles, some of the discrepancies were human error, like clerical filing crap. Wouldn't it be funny if another typo, missing number, you name it, caused the election to be swayed back the other way again?

soonerchk
7/1/2011, 04:35 PM
They can try to drag the BIA in to settle it, but it's unlikely that either the Cherokees or the BIA will want to go that route.

It's not over, I'm sure Smith will appeal and then we'll have another vote with all new numbers.

sooner59
7/1/2011, 04:52 PM
That is a pretty big difference in votes. I don't know which one is guilty, or if both are, but me thinks there is some shenanigans goings on.

soonerchk
7/1/2011, 05:08 PM
That is a pretty big difference in votes. I don't know which one is guilty, or if both are, but me thinks there is some shenanigans goings on.

I'm curious as to what was thrown out to get the new totals, and why.

BudSooner
7/2/2011, 04:01 AM
It's far from over, and I doubt it gets resolved for another month.....or two.

picasso
7/2/2011, 07:22 AM
Tribal politics suck.

AlbqSooner
7/2/2011, 08:05 AM
Tribal politics suck.

True, regardless of the Tribe; virtuallly universal.

The Ghost of Mex
7/2/2011, 08:14 AM
I think they should handle this using the old ways...no holds barred indian leg wrestling match to the finish.

Breadburner
7/2/2011, 08:54 AM
I'm curious as to what was thrown out to get the new totals, and why.

They did not tally some 200 + absentee ballots....They were counted in the total of the ballots but not tallied for either candidate.....Which seems strange...Smith seems to think most of those would be for him....

picasso
7/2/2011, 09:01 AM
They did not tally some 200 + absentee ballots....They were counted in the total of the ballots but not tallied for either candidate.....Which seems strange...Smith seems to think most of those would be for him....

Absentee votes are good for the guy who doesn't want folks to know what a suck job he's really done.

Mississippi Sooner
7/2/2011, 09:51 AM
The Chickasaws don't have this problem. They just keep electing the same guy over and over and over again. Anoatubby is now on his seventh consecutive term.

Breadburner
7/2/2011, 10:09 AM
Absentee votes are good for the guy who doesn't want folks to know what a suck job he's really done.

A vote is a vote.....

picasso
7/2/2011, 10:22 AM
A vote is a vote.....

True but folks who just find out what's happening via the tribal newspaper ain't gettin' the whole story breadman.

pphilfran
7/2/2011, 11:11 AM
Kiowa board throws out June 4 election

The Kiowa Hearing Board chairwoman said the tribe's election board denied fairness and due process when it denied candidates' protests to the tribe's June 4 election results.

Helen Poolaw delivered a sharply worded directive to the election board on Wednesday, she said, to clarify matters specifically in regard to the scheduled recall election for July 16.

In a memorandum addressed to the election board chairman, Dwayne Davis, Poolaw stated the following:

"On June 24, 2011, the Kiowa Hearing Board overturned the decision of the Kiowa Election Board to deny the election protest of candidates Ruth Toehay and Bruce Poolaw. The Board's decision was based on violations of the Kiowa Voting Rights Act that denied fairness and due process rights of the two protesters."

At the heart of the matter, Poolaw said, is the status of a recall election scheduled for July 16. She said it should have been handled before the June 4 general election.

"I told them to do the recall election first," Poolaw said

The special election is for the recall of Chairman Ron Twohatchet, Vice Chair Amber Toppah, Secretary Charlotte Bointy, and KBC members Alva D. Tsoodle, Ace Sahmaunt, Ricky Horse and Steve Smith for violating their oaths of office and the tribe's constitutions and bylaws. The special election notice was sent June 16 by Sharon Aitson, Kiowa Election Board clerk.

Toppah, Bointy, Tsoodle and Smith's names were all on the June 4 election ballots which have yet to be certified. Kiowa Election Board Chairman Dwayne Davis was called away from the meeting following the election due to a family emergency and protests by the two candidates had not been dealt with, Poolaw said. The special election was called but results of the June 4 election have not been certified, she said.

More at link....

http://swoknews.com/main.asp?SectionID=11&SubSectionID=98&ArticleID=35827&TM=43718.95

soonerchk
7/2/2011, 11:33 AM
I love my job.

GDC
7/2/2011, 11:42 AM
It's far from over, and I doubt it gets resolved for another month.....or two.

Yes, it might be contested all the way up to the inauguration on August 14.

pphilfran
7/2/2011, 11:44 AM
I love my job.

:D

soonerchk
7/2/2011, 02:57 PM
Yes, it might be contested all the way up to the inauguration on August 14.

I figure that's a given.

soonercruiser
7/3/2011, 01:47 PM
What happened to the "good ole tribal days"?
Skinning knives at 5 paces!

GKeeper316
7/3/2011, 02:05 PM
i have spoken with the spirit of the bear.

bear says the two men must meet in a fight to the death to decide the matter.

soonercruiser
7/3/2011, 07:59 PM
It is...."The Way"!
:D

But, then, they ARE modern Indians.
They'll probably go to the casino and settle it on the Black Jack table!

badger
7/5/2011, 10:59 AM
Update! The election chair resigned.

Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=297&articleid=20110705_297_0_Ceoeai899289)

As of right now, Baker is the new chief and Smith is the ousted incumbent. Baker predictably is calling for Smith to concede the election so the tribe can move on. Smith is calling for an electronic recount because of the huge discrepancy between the first few vote margins and the final one (less than a dozen compared with 266 now)

soonerchk
7/5/2011, 11:17 AM
Okay, didn't they throw out 250 absentee ballots because they were not valid? That's what I heard, but I imagine there's quite a few stories going around right now.

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 11:19 AM
I never would have guessed we had so many people this interested in the outcome of this election.

Mississippi Sooner
7/5/2011, 11:27 AM
So proud to live! So proud to die!

badger
7/5/2011, 11:38 AM
I never would have guessed we had so many people this interested in the outcome of this election.

Its a big area employer and you have to admit that it's kind of cool that Tulsa (area) has a Hard Rock Hotel. Hard Rock anything is usually in larger areas, but they were able to rebrand and bring one close by. Draws a lot of Arkansas border jumpers. The tribe also provides health care, roads, education dollars, you name it.

soonerchk
7/5/2011, 11:39 AM
I never would have guessed we had so many people this interested in the outcome of this election.

They're one of the biggest economic forces in NEOK. Of course I'm interested!

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 11:41 AM
Its a big area employer and you have to admit that it's kind of cool that Tulsa (area) has a Hard Rock Hotel. Hard Rock anything is usually in larger areas, but they were able to rebrand and bring one close by. Draws a lot of Arkansas border jumpers. The tribe also provides health care, roads, education dollars, you name it.


They're one of the biggest economic forces in NEOK. Of course I'm interested!

OK.

stevo
7/5/2011, 12:07 PM
NOT OKAY!

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 12:09 PM
NOT OKAY!

My "OK" was more of a "whatever".

stevo
7/5/2011, 12:11 PM
whatever.

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 12:12 PM
Don't be mocking me.

stevo
7/5/2011, 12:14 PM
*twiddling thumbs*

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 12:18 PM
I'm not sure I like the tone of this one.

stevo
7/5/2011, 12:20 PM
i'll show you the tone of this one!







(that makes no sense, but it sounds threatening, so i'm sticking with it)


_______
Real Name: Bambi

Turd_Ferguson
7/5/2011, 12:28 PM
Somebody will get scalped before this is over with...

soonerchk
7/5/2011, 12:38 PM
I'm not sure I like the tone of this one.

I don't like the tone of your face!!!









Stevo, why didn't you handle it like that in the first place so I didn't have to get involved?

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 12:39 PM
Somebody will get scalped before this is over with...


I don't like the tone of your face!!!









Stevo, why didn't you handle it like that in the first place so I didn't have to get involved?
I'm going to be wearing a helmet for a while.

stevo
7/5/2011, 12:41 PM
I don't like the tone of your face!!!









Stevo, why didn't you handle it like that in the first place so I didn't have to get involved?


man! you're right. epic fail on my part. going to sulk now


______
Real Name: Thumper

sooner_born_1960
7/5/2011, 12:42 PM
whatever.

texaspokieokie
7/5/2011, 10:06 PM
My Mother was part Cherokee. A real "Okie from Muskogee" !!

badger
7/6/2011, 08:16 AM
Another update, folks!

The incumbent (loser) wants the Cherokee Nation to conduct a new election.

Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110706_11_A1_CUTLIN618871)

I have no idea what the UKB is, but apparently he is calling these voters non-voters and said that those votes were counted as well as Cherokee votes. He said a new election would restore confidence in the election system.

The challenger (winner) is of course calling the lawsuit frivolous and this idea an attempt to continue to be in power. He is asking the incumbent to end this fight and let the Cherokees move on.

Back on June 28, the incumbent's tone was a lot different, when he was declared the official winner:


Within 15 minutes of the news conference's conclusion, looks of determined resolution at Smith's campaign headquarters gave way to grins and exuberant cheers as volunteers and staffers received the news from the election commission.

Inauguration is scheduled for Aug. 14. If the incumbent ends up winning somehow,some way, this will be his last term (term limits, yes).

soonerchk
7/6/2011, 11:31 AM
I can't decide if he will get completely trounced in a new election or if he'll guarantee himself a win.

Either way, bad idea.

badger
7/6/2011, 11:39 AM
OK, more details of the Chad Smith (the incumbent loser) appeal here. (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20110706_12_0_TAHLEQ348101)

Among the allegations!

- Disorganization!

- Writing tallies on napkins or hands when they didn't have tally sheets

- Absentee ballots in black or blue ink or pencil, with pencil complaints about being hard to read by counters

- Eraser marks on ballots, changing votes from Chad to challenger winner Bill John Baker

- "Fan counting" of ballots (not sure what that means exactly?)

- Voting by non-citizens (apparently have a list of 149 voters who shouldn't have voted)

- Tired counters

- Recounting of ballots during original count

I was inclined to think that Chad should just move on, but if any of these complaints are legit, then there's reason to keep fighting. I can't imagine many (if any) of these discrepancies flying in a general public election.

soonerchk
7/6/2011, 11:42 AM
Voting by non-citizens (apparently have a list of 149 voters who shouldn't have voted)

I've been told that most of those have dual citizenship with the UKBs so they would be legitimate.

Doesn't really matter what happens at this point. Half the tribe is going to feel angry and cheated and that's not good for anyone.

GDC
8/2/2011, 04:23 PM
New election for principal chief set for September 24. Deputy chief-elect Joe Crittenden will be acting principal chief from the inauguration date of August 14 until then.

Looks like best three out of five...