Principal Chief-elect Patrick Lambert is shown with his wife, First Lady-elect Cyndi Lambert, shortly after the results of the election are announced. (Photos from Patrick Lambert for Chief Facebook)
Patrick Lambert ran away with the Principal Chief’s race in Thursday’s general election with 70.99 percent of the total vote. With a total of 2,599 votes, Principal Chief-elect Lambert bested Gene “Tunney” Crowe who got 917 (26.52 percent) and write-in candidate Mary “Missy” Crowe who received 91 votes (2.49 percent).
In an excerpt from his victory speech on Thursday night, Chief-elect Lambert stated, “Throughout this election, we made our campaign focus solely on Cherokee families and the challenges you face every day. Over the past weeks and months, you spoke and I listened, and together we built a platform committed to making tribal government more accountable, putting power back in your hands, and making Cherokee families the first priority.”
The Vice Chief’s race was a little closer with Richard “Richie” Sneed pulling out a 19-point victory with 2,191 votes (59.06 percent) over incumbent Larry Blythe who garnered 1,519 votes (40.94 percent).
Following the results, Vice Chief-elect Sneed wrote on his official campaign Facebook page, “Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this election. I am so humbled and honored and I will serve you well.”
– One Feather staff report
Vice Chief-elect Richie Sneed addresses a crowd at an election rally on Thursday, Sept. 3 after the results were announced. Shown behind him are First Lady-elect Cyndi Lambert, Principal Chief-elect Patrick Lambert, and Sneed’s wife, Trina.
Following are the unofficial results:
Principal Chief
Patrick Lambert – 2599 (70.99%)
Gene “Tunney” Crowe – 971 (26.52%)
Mary Crowe (write-in) – 91 (2.49%)
Breakdown by Community:
Lambert – Big Cove 319, Big Y 163, Birdtown 717, Cherokee Co. 81, Painttown 306, Wolfetown 457, Yellowhill 280, Snowbird 215, Absentee 61
- Crowe – Big Cove 62, Big Y 58, Birdtown 258, Cherokee Co. 101, Painttown 125, Wolfetown 143, Yellowhill 112, Snowbird 81, Absentee 31
- Crowe – Big Cove 12, Big Y 9, Birdtown 9, Cherokee Co. 0, Painttown 5, Wolfetown 16, Yellowhill 40, Snowbird 0, Absentee 0
Vice Chief
Richard “Richie” Sneed – 2191 (59.06%)
Larry Blythe – 1519 (40.94%)
Breakdown by Community:
Sneed – Big Cove 253, Big Y 132, Birdtown 587, Cherokee Co. 72, Painttown 268, Wolfetown 383, Yellowhill 255, Snowbird 191, Absentee 50
Blythe – Big Cove 140, Big Y 103, Birdtown 396, Cherokee Co. 113, Painttown 187, Wolfetown 235, Yellowhill 192, Snowbird 111, Absentee 42
Big Cove Tribal Council
Richard French – 214 (28.65%)
Teresa McCoy – 206 (27.58%)
Consie Girty – 186 (24.9%)
Perry Shell – 141 (18.88%)
Big Y/Wolftown Tribal Council
Bo Crowe – 655 (39.72%)
Dennis Edward (Bill) Taylor – 387 (23.47%)
Albert Martin Jr. – 331 (20.07%)
Polly Jo Castorena – 276 (16.74%)
Big Y School Board
John “Dick” Crowe – 226 (100%)
Birdtown Tribal Council
Albert Rose – 685 (37.29%)
Travis K. Smith -555 (30.21%)
Terri Lee Taylor – 310 (16.8%)
Gilbert Crowe – 287 (15.62%)
Cherokee County/Snowbird Tribal Council
Brandon Jones – 285 (31.70%)
Adam Wachacha – 259 (28.81%)
Janell Rattler – 215 (23.92%)
Bucky Brown – 140 (15.57%)
Painttown Tribal Council
Marie Junaluska – 258 (33.08%)
Tommye Saunooke – 235 (30.13%)
Terri Henry – 188 (24.1%)
Lula Jackson (write-in) – 53 (6.79%)
Pete Taylor (write-in) – 46 (5.9%)
Painttown School Board
Charlotte Ann Saunooke – 311 (67.03%)
Trista Welch – 153 (32.97%)
Yellowhill Tribal Council
Anita Welch Lossiah – 227 (27.85%)
Alan “B” Ensley – 188 (23.07%)
Arizona Jane Blankenship – 184 (22.58%)
Tom Wahnetah – 109 (13.37%)
David Wolfe (write-in) – 107 (13.13%)
Yellowhill School Board
Jennifer Thompson – 237 (55.5%)
T.W. (Price) Saunooke – 190 (44.5%)
