By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
There will be no redecorating either of the executive offices as both Principal Chief Michell Hicks and Vice Chief Larry Blythe won their bids for re-election for third terms on Thursday, Sept. 1.
Principal Chief Michell Hicks
Chief Hicks defeated Patrick Lambert by 135 votes in a rematch of the 2007 election. He carried five of the eight voting townships including: Yellowhill, Painttown, Big Y, Wolftown and Cherokee County.
Write-in candidate Susan Toineeta garnered 80 votes.
“I have never been more honored to stand before you as your Principal Chief,” Chief Hicks said in a statement. “Your outpouring of support and prayers over the last few months sustained my family and I through this very difficult election.”
Vice Chief Larry Blythe
In a letter to the One Feather, Lambert thanked his supporters and related, “I believe our decisions to not get in the mud were the right decisions for many reasons. I felt that we all have to live together afterwards, so I wanted to conduct an election that we could be proud of after the dust settled.”
In another rematch from the 2007 election, Vice Chief Larry Blythe defeated Big Cove Rep. Teresa McCoy by a margin of 76 votes (2,112 – 2,036). Both candidates carried four voting townships with Vice Chief Blythe carrying Yellowhill, Painttown, Cherokee County and Snowbird and Rep. McCoy carrying Big Cove, Birdtown, Big Y and Wolfetown.
“My family and I want to say thank you first and foremost to God for the many blessings he has bestowed on our family and on our community,” Vice Chief Blythe wrote in a letter to the One Feather. “I also want to say thank you to everyone who supported me during this campaign. Your prayers, kind words and thoughts, and your vote have touched my heart.”
Rep. McCoy also thanked her supporters and commented on the election in a letter to the One Feather. “It is clear there is an almost equal division in our Tribe. The votes showed that. Hopefully, our government will focus on the needs of our enrolled members and not themselves. There are so many of you who helped me and kept us in your prayers. Thank you. Your phone calls and messages were heartwarming and wonderful.”
All 11 incumbents running for Tribal Council seats won re-election. The only new face in the Council Chambers will be Bo Taylor who won a seat for the Big Cove Community.
Full Election Results
A complete breakdown of voting by township:
Principal Chief
Michell Hicks 2,124
Patrick Lambert 1,989
Susan Toineeta (write-in) 80
Vice Chief
Larry Blythe 2,112
Teresa McCoy 2,036
Write-in 7
Yellowhill Council
David Wolfe 351
Alan “B” Ensley 289
Jimmy Bradley 211
John D. Long 91
Write-in 4
Yellowhill School Board
T.W. (Price) Saunooke 310
Doris Johnson (Write-in) 125
Big Cove Council
Perry Shell 303
Bo Taylor 230
Frankie Lee Bottchenbaugh 190
Lori Taylor 157
Write-in 4
Birdtown Council
Gene “Tunney” Crowe, Jr. 701
Jim Owle 694
Terri Lee Taylor 422
Faye McCoy 112
Write-in 7
Painttown Council
Tommye Saunooke 346
Terri Henry 280
Marie Junaluska 241
Yona Wade 181
Write-in 1
Painttown School Board
Charlotte Saunooke 331
Anthony Sequoyah 238
Write-in 1
Big Y/Wolftown
Mike Parker 531
Dennis Edward (Bill) Taylor 525
Kathy “Rock” Burgess 363
Dwayne “Tuff” Jackson 354
Write-in 2
Big Y/Wolftown School Board
John Dick Crowe 251
Write-in 1
Cherokee Co. – Snowbird Council
Adam Wachacha 285
Diamond Brown 266
Angela Rose Kephart 211
Brenda Norville 163
