Following a 43 percent voter turnout during the June 1 Primary Election, the field of 45 Tribal Council candidates has been whittled down to 24 contenders for 12 seats. The top four vote-getters in each community will advance to the Sept. 7 General Election, when two representatives will be chosen from each to sit on Tribal Council.
Tribal Council representatives serve two-year terms and receive an annual salary of $80,600.
Big Cove
Richard French: 131 votes (22 percent)*
Perry Shell: 124 (20.9)∆
Lori Taylor: 68 (11.4)
Fred Penick: 66 (11.1)
Damian Nicholas Solis: 61 (10.3)
Lavita L. Hill: 50 (8.4)
James Darren Panther: 33 (5.6)
James “Chigger” Bradley: 28 (4.7)
Sheila Standingdeer: 23 (3.9)
Cody Swayney: 10 (1.7)
Birdtown
Albert Rose: 231 (15.8)*
Travis Smith: 220 (15)*
Boyd Owle: 213 (14.6)
Ashley Sessions: 206 (14.1)
Curtis Wildcatt: 130 (8.9)
Gary R. Ledford: 121 (8.3)
Robert “Bob” Driver: 119 (8.1)
Gilbert Crowe: 94 (6.4)
Albert Crowe: 71 (4.9)
Michael J. Youngdeer: 58 (4)
Painttown
Tommye Saunooke: 156 (21.9)*
Terri Henry: 107 (15)∆
Lisa Taylor: 106 (14.9)
Yona Wade: 94 (13.2)
Mark Hicks: 88 (12.4)
Marie Junaluska: 78 (11)*
Cherie Rose: 45 (6.3)
Janet R. Arch: 38 (5.3)
Snowbird/Cherokee County
Janell Rattler: 157 (23.4)
Bucky Brown: 151 (22.5)
Adam Wachacha: 149 (22.2)*
Larry Blythe: 127 (19)†
Isaiah Chekelelee: 65 (9.7)
Phillip Ellington: 21 (3.1)
Wolfetown/Big Y
Bo Crowe: 391 (29.6)*
Jeremy Wilson: 301 (22.8)
Sam “Frell” Reed: 235 (17.8)
Bill Taylor: 173 (13.1)*
James David Jumper: 171 (13)
Jarrett “Sheriff” Crowe: 49 (3.7)
Yellowhill
David Wolfe: 193 (29.7) ∆
Tom Wahnetah: 118 (18.2)
Charles Penick: 108 (16.6)
Anita Welch Lossiah: 100 (15.4)*
Mary “Missy” Crowe: 80 (12.3)
Lloyd Arneach Jr.: 50 (7.7)
* denotes incumbent
∆ denotes 2013-15 councilmember
† denotes former vice chief