ANADARKO, Okla. – Citizens of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes reaffirm their choice for tribal president by reelecting Leslie Standing in a June 4 special election.

Standing returned to office June 6 making only a minor change his first day back by reclaiming his office, which was being occupied by someone else.

“It feels really good. You know there was so much stress trying to get through this election period that I didn’t want to have all these little runoffs that were going to occur so we really got out there and pushed our people to come in and vote and they did,” Standing said. “They were wanting a change just like everyone else was. Some of the people were ready for it a long time ago and they got out there and made a good effort; making sure we didn’t have a runoff.”

Out of 287 votes, Standing received 157 votes, which was 54.7 percent of the vote.  The three other candidates were Marsha Rose, who received 77 votes; Terri Parton, 46 votes; and Vanessa Vance, 7 votes.

“I will immediately focus on creating an open and accountable government, full disclosure of tribal business entities, economic development and health care delivery. In fact, I have already contacted U.S. government officials concerning the possible closure of our local Indian health care clinic which is vital to the health of Wichita tribal citizens and local tribes.”

Prior to the special election Standing said he was amazed tribal members had little access to information concerning the tribes’ Sugar Creek Casino, in Hinton, Okla. and Anadarko Industries in Houston, Texas, which was named one of the fastest growing companies in 2010 by the Houston Business Journal.

Standing has four priorities for the tribe, which are 1) Open, honest and transparent tribal government. 2) Diversified economic development and job creation. 3) Better and accessible health care. 4) Improved graduation rates and opportunities for higher education.

Standing was initially elected in 2008 to serve a four-year term but was recalled on Sept. 11, 2010. After his recall, former vice-president Stratford Williams took over as president.

Williams issued a press release after the recall stating, “The council took the action based upon a recall petition and supporting affidavits charging that president Standing committed misconduct in office. By a vote of 79 to 67, the council removed president Standing.”

Standing said his recall election was illegal and a consequence of his efforts to create an open government and accused the tribes’ Executive Committee of “misappropriation of tribal money, malfeasance in conducting tribal business and self-dealing in every aspect of tribal government.” Williams and Executive Committee members previously decline comment on the allegations.

“When I was elected president of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in 2008, I promised to make tribal government open and accountable to all tribal members. Change is never easy,” Standing said. “However, the citizens of the Wichita tribe confirmed their desire to have a government that is open, respectful and accountable to all members.”

Standings’ attorney Steven Griggs said the special election came about largely by a campaign of the people, and Standing was “reelected pretty overwhelmingly.”

Griggs said the opposition’s position was that the vice president would fill the remainder of the term however, “That’s not what the people wanted.  The people wanted a voice to elect their own president so there was a campaign to hold a special election to fulfill the term so that’s what came about … They finally relented and allowed the people to voice their opinion and they voiced their opinion …”

Standing will now serve out the remainder of the presidential term that expires in July 2012.

“It is time for the Wichita nation to come together and move forward,” Standing said. “Wichita tribal officials must recognize the voice of the people and work together to improve the lives of our citizens.”