Recount ordered in Choctaw chief race

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (AP) – A July 11 runoff has been scheduled in the election for chief, or miko, of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The runoff will pit the 61-year-old incumbent Beasley Denson against 50-year-old challenger Phyliss J. Anderson. Complete but unofficial returns from Tuesday's election showed Denson has 1,598 votes and Anderson has 872 votes. Seven other candidates were on the ballot.

The self-governing tribe claims about 10,000 members, the majority in Neshoba County.

Anderson is a Tribal Council member from the Red Water community in Leake County. If elected, she would become the Choctaws' first female chief.

Denson was elected in 2007, defeating longtime chief Phillip Martin. Martin died in 2010.

Tuesday's election also included eight positions on the Tribal Council.