How they fared
Of the 12 current Tribal Council representatives, nine are running for re-election in this year’s race. The June 1 primary election saw one of the nine fail to advance to the general election, with several other incumbents finishing in weaker positions than they did in 2015. The election came just one week after the controversial impeachment and removal of former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert.
Pro-impeachment incumbents
Albert Rose, Birdtown
Rose came in first out of 10 candidates with 231 votes, or 15.8 percent of votes cast in Birdtown. While he was the top vote-getter, Rose’s numbers have fallen since the 2015 primaries, when he garnered 441 votes, or 29.6 percent, in a field of 11 candidates. During that race, 301 votes separated him from the fourth-place candidate — this time, only 25 votes separated him from fourth-place candidate Ashley Sessions.
Travis Smith, Birdtown
Smith came in second out of 10 candidates with 220 votes, or 15 percent of the votes cast in Birdtown. Smith’s performance was nearly steady compared to the 2015 primaries, when he drew 236 votes, or 15.8 percent, in a field of 11 candidates. However, in 2015, 96 votes had separated Smith from the fourth-place candidate and 91 votes separated him from the third-place candidate. This time, only 14 votes separated him from the fourth-place candidate and seven votes separated him from the third-place candidate.
Marie Junaluska, Painttown
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Junaluska came in sixth out of eight candidates with 78 votes, or 11 percent of the votes cast in Painttown. She is the only incumbent running for re-election who will not advance to the general election. Painttown did not have a Primary Election in 2015, but in the 2015 General Election she had been the top vote-getter with 258 votes, or 33.1 percent, in a field of three candidates and two write-in candidates.
Adam Wachacha, Snowbird/Cherokee County
Wachacha came in third place in a field of six candidates with 149 votes, or 22.2 percent of all votes cast in Snowbird and Cherokee County. He came in ahead of fourth-place Larry Blythe, who served as vice chief during the Hicks administration and received 127 votes, or 19 percent. The Snowbird/Cherokee County Township did not have a Primary Election in 2015, but in the General Election Wachacha had come in second place out of four with 259 votes, or 28.8 percent, finishing behind incumbent Brandon Jones.
Brandon Jones, Snowbird/Cherokee County
Jones is not running for re-election.
Bo Crowe, Wolfetown/Big Y
Crowe was far and away the top vote-getter in a field of six candidates with 391 votes, or 29.6 percent of the votes cast in Wolfetown. His closest competitor was Jeremy Wilson, who drew 22.8 percent of the vote with 301 votes. However, Crowe’s performance diminished compared to the 2015 primaries, when he came in first with 35 percent of the vote amid a larger field of nine candidates.
Bill Taylor, Wolfetown/Big Y
Taylor was just three votes away from not making it to the General Election, coming in fourth with 173 votes, or 13.1 percent of all votes cast in Wolfetown. The fifth-place contender in the field of six was James David Jumper, with 171 votes. Taylor’s performance has substantially diminished over his last two terms. In the 2015 primaries he came in second with 230 votes, or 17.4 percent in a field of nine, and in 2013 he was the top vote-getter with 278 votes, or 26.5 percent in a field of seven.
Anita Lossiah, Yellowhill
Lossiah came in fourth out of six candidates with 100 votes, or 15.4 percent of the votes cast in Yellowhill. In the 2015 primaries, Lossiah had been the top vote-getter with 160 votes, or 27.6 percent, in a field of six candidates. In that race, 83 votes separated her from the fourth-place candidate. This time around, she is the fourth-place candidate and 93 votes separate her from the first-place candidate.
Alan “B” Ensley, Yellowhill
Ensley is not running for re-election.
Anti-impeachment incumbents
Richard French, Big Cove
French was the top vote-getter in a field of 10 candidates, receiving 131 votes, or 22.1 percent of all votes cast in Big Cove. He edged out former councilmember Perry Shell, who came in second place with 124 votes. French performed markedly better than he did in the 2015 primaries, when he came in third with 82 votes, or 13.8 percent of those cast in a field of eight candidates.
Teresa McCoy, Big Cove
McCoy is not running for re-election.
Tommye Saunooke, Painttown
Saunooke was by far the top vote-getter in Painttown, receiving 156 votes, or 21.9 percent in a field of eight candidates. She came in ahead of second-place Terri Henry, Tribal Council chairwoman during the 2013-15 term, who had 107 votes. Painttown did not have a primary election in 2015, but in the 2015 general election Saunooke had placed second with 235 votes, or 30.1 percent, in a field of three candidates and two write-in candidates. Marie Junaluska, who did not advance to the General Election this time around, was the top vote-getter in 2015.
