Bill John Baker certified as winner of Cherokee Nation election

Thursday, October 13, 2011  

It's official -- Bill John Baker will be the new principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Following a three-day counting process, the Cherokee Nation Election Commission certified the results of a special election between Baker and Chad Smith, who was the incumbent chief. Baker won with 10,703 votes to Smith's 9,128 votes.

"I'm honored and humbled to be the Chief Elect of the Cherokee Nation. I hope I can be sworn in quickly and get to work taking this Nation from good to great. I will be looking to Chief Smith for a smooth transition and welcome any guidance he finds important to impart," Baker said on his web site.

An inauguration date hasn't been set for Baker. It's possible someone might appeal the election results.

Get the Story:
Bill John Baker named official winner in Cherokee chief election (The Tulsa World 10/13)
Baker wins; but complaints persist (The Muskogee Phoenix 10/13)

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decisions:
Vann v. Salazar (October 11, 2011)
Cherokee Nation Registrar v. Nash (August 22, 2011)

Related Stories:
Bill John Baker set to become new leader of Cherokee Nation (10/12)
Kimberly Horton: Cherokee Nation, racism and the Freedmen (10/12)
Cherokee Nation without HUD funds amid Freedmen dispute (10/11)
Cherokee Nation begins counting of ballots for principal chief (10/10)
Cherokee Nation anticipates results of election by Wednesday (10/7)
Opinion: Greed and racism with removal of Cherokee Freedmen (10/6)
Cherokee Nation extends balloting in ongoing Freedmen dispute (9/28)
Cherokee Nation faces contempt order in Freedmen vote dispute (9/27)
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Judge approves order for Freedmen vote in Cherokee election (9/22)
Cherokee Nation allows Freedmen to vote in Saturday's election (9/21)
Federal judge to hear arguments in Cherokee Freedmen lawsuit (9/20)
NPR: Cherokee Nation facing scrutiny for ousting the Freedmen (9/20)
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Jay Tavare: Divide and conquer -- disenrollment among tribes (8/25)
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Decision allows Cherokee Nation to remove Freedmen from rolls (8/23)Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)