The outgoing chairman of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma is criticizing efforts to recall him and his vice-chairman.

Chairman Clifford McKenzie, who is already scheduled to leave office in June, told The Oklahoman that tribal members are "crazy to do this." "My time is up in June, and it won't come soon enough," he said. "I have finally come to the realization that Indians do not want to be governed. The government gave a lot of these tribes constitutions in the '30s, and I now think that was a big mistake."

A recall election takes place in an attempt to oust McKenzie, who recently underwent heart surgery, and vice-chairman Hess Bointy. Tribal members accuse Bointy of stealing tribal money. He admits taking $480,347.81 from a tribal bank account but said he put it in a safe-deposit box at a local bank to protect it from a rival faction.

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Kiowa voters to consider ouster of two officials (The Daily Oklahoman 2/27)
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