OKMULGEE, Okla. – Come January, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation will be under new leadership.
Unofficial results from the tribe’s Nov. 7 general election show challenger James Floyd receiving 62.34 percent of the votes cast in the principal chief’s race, defeating incumbent George Tiger.
Trailing by more than 1,000 votes before the review of challenge ballots began, Tiger issued a statement on election night through his campaign, thanking his backers and congratulating Floyd.
"I'm proud that we will leave the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in a lot better shape than we found it four years ago,” he said.
“I want to thank my volunteers and supporters and I wish Mr. Floyd the very best as he begins working for our people. My office will be open to assisting in transition with Mr. Floyd as he prepares to take office."
The former director of the Veterans Administration’s Jack C. Montgomery Medical Center in Muskogee and Ernest Childers Clinic in Broken Arrow, Floyd started his professional career with the tribe in the early 1980s as its Director of Community Services before accepting positions with Indian Health Services and the VA in Oregon, Utah and Kansas City.
The principal chief’s race was Floyd’s first time to run for any kind of elected office. A graduate of Northeastern State University and Portland State University, Floyd reiterated at multiple public appearances during the election cycle that his campaign would not accept any contributions other than public feedback on the issues.
“Our message was one that was very positive, straightforward, very grassroots,” he said. “I felt that’s what people wanted – to be able to relate to me. Our approach meant taking more time to generate support, but that generated strong support. We built relationships during the campaign and that’s what our people wanted.”
During his election night watch party, he reiterated to his supporters that his top priority upon taking office remains unchanged: there will not be a mass firing of tribal government employees.
“We want to assess the talents of those employees who are already there,” he said. “I know there are some great people working there. I want to visit with them, ask them where they feel they’re most valuable and give them the opportunity to speak up.”
Meanwhile, unofficial results show two members of the National Council getting re-elected and three newcomers joining the legislative branch.
Incumbent McIntosh District representative Darrell Proctor defeated Sharon Wyatt Rose, 2,846 votes to 1,969.
In Okfuskee District, challenger Randall Hicks defeated Franklin Coachman 2,626 votes to 2,133.
In Okmulgee District, Del Vince Beaver defeated Nelson Scott Harjo, 2,592 votes to 2,189. The current seat holder, David Nichols, was among the candidates for principal chief in the September primary election and did not seek re-election to the legislative branch.
In Tukvpvcte District, challenger Rufus Scott defeated Shirlene Ade, 2,711 votes to 2,052.
In Tulsa District, the National Council’s second speaker, Robert Hufft, defeated Alexis Bible Crosley, 2,749 votes to 2,032.
As per the terms of the tribe’s election code, challenges to the results must be filed by 5 p.m. Friday.
Second chief Louis Hicks and Muskogee District representative Pete Beaver did not draw any challengers. With two candidates each, National Council races for Creek District and Wagoner/Rogers/Mayes District were decided in September’s primary with incumbents David Hill and Johnnie Greene each earning another four-year term.
Inauguration is slated for January. According to the tribe’s constitution, the winners’ terms begin Jan. 4, 2016.
Additionally, two constitutional amendments each passed with more than 80 percent of the votes cast.
Amendment No. 1 explicitly prohibits anyone convicted of committing a felony against the tribe from running for chief or second chief or from holding an appointed office. Previously, the tribe’s constitution barred anyone with a felony from “a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Amendment No. 2 blocks anyone from serving on the National Council who has ever been convicted of committing a felony against the tribe. The constitution currently prohibits anyone from serving in the legislature who has a felony conviction within the last 10 years from any court of competent jurisdiction.
