Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Jim Wilcoxen, right, swears in Dist. 1, Seat 1 Tribal Councilor Joe Byrd on Jan. 23 with the councilor’s two daughters, Julia and Candice, at his side. WILL CHAVEZ/CHEROKEE PHOENIX 
By WILL CHAVEZ
Senior Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Former Principal Chief Joe Byrd went from being Tribal Councilor-elect to Tribal Councilor after taking his oath of office on Jan. 23 in the Tribal Council Chambers.

Byrd will serve as the Dist. 1, Seat 1 council representative until August 2013. He replaces Bill John Baker, who took over as principal chief on Oct. 19 after winning the chief’s race.  

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Jim Wilcoxen swore in Byrd with the councilor’s two daughters, Julia and Candice, at his side. After taking his oath of office, Byrd thanked his supporters and volunteers for helping him with his campaign. 

“It took everybody. It was a grassroots effort to make this thing happen,” he said. “I look forward to serving Cherokee County and District 1 and hope I can just fulfill some of the responsibilities that our former council member, now chief, Baker did.”

On Jan. 17, the CN Election Commission certified the results of the special election for Dist. 1, Seat 1, naming Byrd the winner. The election was held Jan. 14.

According to the results, Byrd received 1,189 votes for 65 percent of the vote totals. Former CN employee Pam Iron received 431 votes, while Raymond Vann received 106 votes. Candidates Geneva Reves and Brandon Girty got 48 votes and 32 votes respectively. 

Byrd said he plans to spend time in the communities to learn firsthand the needs of his constituents. Health care and helping Cherokee people become healthier are other priorities.

“I really want to stay involved in the communities. I enjoy being with the people,” he said.  

Byrd previously served on the Tribal Council from 1987-95 and as principal chief from 1995-99. 
He said compared to when he first served on the council, the council’s activities now are more transparent and technology such as cell phones and computers make the job of serving the Cherokee people easier. 

“I think when I ran for council in (19)87 I was the youngest council member. I may be the oldest now,” he said. 

Byrd said he looks forward to working with fellow Councilors Tina Glory Jordan and David Walkingstick to serve Dist. 1. The district consists of Cherokee County and part of Wagoner County.

With Byrd taking office, the council has all 17 seats filled. Dist. 2 Tribal Councilor Frankie Hargis became the 16th representative when she took her oath of office on Dec. 12. She won a Dec. 3 runoff for Seat 1 in the district, which consists of Adair and Delaware counties and part of Ottawa County. That seat became vacant after S. Joe Crittenden became deputy chief on Aug. 14. 

will-chavez@cherokee.org
918-207-3961