“I’m not opposed to the Carter Commission, or anyone for that matter, observing our election process, but I put my trust in our Mvskoke laws and the citizens I serve, the Mvskoke people, not an outside source,” Chief George Tiger said.
OKMULGEE, Okla. (AP) — The principal chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation said he won’t sign a resolution to bring in an outside election monitor for its upcoming elections.
The office of principal chief, plus seven National Council seats are on this year’s ballot, the Tulsa World reported. The tribe’s primary election is scheduled for Sept. 19 and its general election is set for Nov. 7.
The National Council had adopted a resolution during a Tuesday emergency session that invites the Carter Center to observe the elections.
“It’s just another set of eyes looking at things,” Okfuskee District representative Frank Coachman said. “If there’s something we can do to make our election processes better, we should at least look into it. If we can’t do it for this election, we should do it somewhere down the line.”
But Principal Chief George Tiger announced Thursday that he won’t sign the measure.
“I’m not opposed to the Carter Commission, or anyone for that matter, observing our election process, but I put my trust in our Mvskoke laws and the citizens I serve, the Mvskoke people, not an outside source,” Tiger said.
Without his signature, the measure becomes law 10 business days from the date it was received, meaning the earliest it could be enacted is four days after the primary. If Tiger returned the measure with a veto, it could have been subject to a veto override attempt by the National Council.
“It’s Chief Tiger’s prerogative to do what he wants to do,” said National Council Speaker Thomas Yahola, the measure’s author and one of five candidates for principal chief. “We will just let time tell on this one.”
