Chad Smith officially kicked off his campaign for a fourth term as the leader of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Smith, who was first elected in 1999, is serving his third term in office. The Cherokee constitution limits officials to two terms but the tribe's highest court ruled that the provision didn't go into effect until 2003.

That means Smith is only in his first term under the new constitution. His running mate is Chris Soap, a tribal council member and the son of Charlie Soap, the husband of the late former chief Wilma Mankiller.

Other candidates for chief include council member Bill John Baker and John Cornsilk.

Get the Story:
Cherokee chief to seek re-election (The Tulsa World 9/3)

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