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June 19, 2013
5-day Forecast Tulsa World  
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Big crowd gets first look at new Tulsa park's design

A Gathering Place for Tulsa lived up to its name Tuesday night as hundreds of people packed into Tulsa Community College's Center for Creativity for the unveiling of the park's Phase 1 design.

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Find stories, interviews and photos about Tulsa’s upcoming park.

 
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Heat rallies, tops Spurs in OT of NBA Finals Game 6

LeBron James shrugged off a poor start to get 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds to play to force overtime and the Miami Heat staved off elimination with a 103-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night.

 
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Gov. Fallin announces French aerospace manufacturer for Grove

The 2013 Paris Air Show yielded a new aerospace manufacturer for Grove, where Australian firm Ferra Engineering will expand with a new 20-person facility.

 
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Now not the time for a public-safety tax

There's no doubt that Tulsans consider public safety to be a top priority.

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3rd place for the Okies

The Okies from Muskogee are coming home.

 
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CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS

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Cherokee elections

The Cherokee Nation -- the most populous American Indian tribe in the state and the second-largest in the United States -- on June 25 held elections for principal chief, deputy chief and council members. After an all-night session of counting votes and later a ballot recount, results for principal chief remained razor thin, with an apparent winner changing at least twice.

A second election was held Sept. 24, with additional walk-in voting days for the freedmen, descendants of former Cherokee slaves. The additional walk-in voting days were part of a federal court order allowing freedmen to vote in the second election. Ballot counting for the second election began Oct. 9.

On Oct. 12, the Cherokee Nation Election Commission certified the results of the tribe's special election for principal chief.

Tribal Councilor Bill John Baker defeated former Principal Chief Chad Smith 10,703 votes to 9,128.

Baker was sworn into office Oct. 19 on the steps of the Cherokee County Courthouse in Tahlequah.

His official inauguration is Nov. 6.


Chad Smith speaks on in Tahlequah during a news conference about Cherokee Nation election results, left. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

Newly elected Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker hugs his mother, Isabel Baker. ADAM WISNESKI/Tulsa World
HEADLINES
Newly elected Cherokee chief seeks to leave positive legacy

Newly elected Cherokee chief seeks to leave positive legacy   11/4/2011

Chief Bill John Baker recalls an 'old superintendent' whose greatest measure of himself was to leave the wood pile a little bit taller at the end of each day.
Former Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith looks back with pride

Former Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith looks back with pride   10/25/2011

In thinking of his accomplishments, Chad Smith recalls 'some big Indian guy' who walked up to him during his 12-year tenure as Cherokee Nation principal chief, looking as though he had a complaint.
BIA chief congratulates Baker, Cherokees on election

BIA chief congratulates Baker, Cherokees on election   10/21/2011

A key federal official who earlier had warned the Cherokee Nation against excluding freedmen descendants from voting issued a statement Thursday congratulating new Principal Chief Bill John Baker.
Baker sworn in as principal chief

Baker sworn in as principal chief   10/20/2011

After four months, two elections and a summer of recounts and court hearings, Bill John Baker is now officially principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Bill John Baker sworn in as Cherokee chief

Bill John Baker sworn in as Cherokee chief   10/19/2011

The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has dismissed former principal chief Chad Smith’s appeal in the tribe’s special election, ending the months-long contested principal chief's race.
Cherokee election appeal heads to tribal court

Cherokee election appeal heads to tribal court   10/19/2011

A timeline is now in place for an appeal filed in the special election for Cherokee Nation principal chief.
Cherokee court has Thursday deadline to consider Smith's election appeal

Cherokee court has Thursday deadline to consider Smith's election appeal   10/18/2011

A timeline is now in place for an appeal filed in the special election for Cherokee principal chief.
Smith challenges Cherokee election results

Smith challenges Cherokee election results   10/18/2011

Former Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith has filed an appeal with the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court challenging the results of the tribe's special election for chief.
Smith appeals Cherokee election

Smith appeals Cherokee election   10/17/2011

Former Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith filed an appeal contesting the results of the tribe's special election.
Third-party observer for Cherokee primary chief election endorses results

Third-party observer for Cherokee primary chief election endorses results   10/15/2011

The third-party group that observed the Cherokee Nation's special election for principal chief has endorsed the counting process used earlier this week.
Bill John Baker named official winner in Cherokee chief election

Bill John Baker named official winner in Cherokee chief election   10/13/2011

The certified results show Baker defeating former chief Chad Smith, 10,703 votes to 9,128.
Baker certified as winner in chief's race

Baker certified as winner in chief's race   10/12/2011

“This is the happiest day of my life,” Bill John Baker said. “Not just for me, but for my wife and for all of the people who have stuck by us through all of this.”
Cherokee court's ruling may affect Baker's apparent election win

Cherokee court's ruling may affect Baker's apparent election win   10/12/2011

According to unofficial election returns, Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member Bill John Baker apparently will be the tribe's next chief, but the results of the Sept. 24 vote may be in jeopardy because of a tribal Supreme Court ruling Tuesday.
Baker apparent winner, but Cherokee court decision's impact on election unknown

Baker apparent winner, but Cherokee court decision's impact on election unknown   10/11/2011

Tribal Council member Bill John Baker apparently won the election for Cherokee principal chief, but the possible effect on the election's results through a ruling by the tribe's Supreme Court is unknown.
Cherokee panel verifies absentee ballots ahead of machine count

Cherokee panel verifies absentee ballots ahead of machine count   10/11/2011

No additional ballots were counted Monday in the Cherokee Nation's special election for principal chief.

Cherokee election board spends day verifying absentee ballots   10/10/2011

No additional ballots were counted Monday in the Cherokee Nation’s special election for principal chief. The tribe’s Election Commission spent the day verifying absentee ballots for proper notarization and signatures.
Cherokee special election: Baker leads in unofficial first count

Cherokee special election: Baker leads in unofficial first count   10/10/2011

After the first day of counting in the Cherokee Nation special election for principal chief, Tribal Council member Bill John Baker unofficially leads former chief Chad Smith by almost 2,200 votes.

Cherokees begin counting principal chief ballots on Sunday   10/9/2011

For Cherokee voters, the end is in sight.

Cherokee extra walk-in voting at Election Commission only   9/29/2011

The Cherokee Nation Election Commission announced Wednesday that all additional walk-in voting will only be done at the commission's office.

Cherokee Nation adds walk-in days in vote for principal chief   9/28/2011

Because of a federal court order, the Cherokee Nation Election Commission will offer additional walk-in voting days in the second election for principal chief.
Cherokees to hold additional walk-in voting; ballot counting won't start until Oct. 9

Cherokees to hold additional walk-in voting; ballot counting won't start until Oct. 9   9/27/2011

Due to a federal court order, the Cherokee Nation Election Commission will offer additional walk-in voting days in the second election for principal chief.

Lawyer: Cherokee election board violated court order   9/27/2011

The Cherokee Nation Election Commission has violated a federal court order in the tribe's ongoing litigation with its freedmen descendants, an attorney said.
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TIMELINE
June 25: Cherokee voters cast their ballots for principal chief.

June 26: After a night of counting votes, Bill John Baker is announced unofficial winner by 11 votes. An earlier count that had not included challenged ballots had incumbent Chief Chad Smith ahead by a narrow margin.

June 27: The Cherokee Nation Election Commission says Smith is the "official" winner by 7 votes. Baker calls for a recount.

June 28: Baker asks the tribe's Supreme Court for an emergency injunction and seeks the immediate release of certified election results.

June 29: Baker asks for a hand recount of the election results.

June 30: Certified recount figures make Baker the winner by a 266-vote margin.

July 1: Attorneys for Smith file court papers seeking an electronic recount.

July 5: Smith asks Supreme Court for new election. Also, tribal Election Commission Chairman Roger Johnson resigns.

July 8: The Supreme Court begins hearing testimony on Smith’s appeal of the election results. A Tulsa World review shows at least 31 votes in the election appear to have come from unregistered voters.

July 10: Supreme Court justices order a comparison of the names of 15,000 voters in the June 25 election with the 300,000 Cherokee Nation members registered to vote.

July 12: The Supreme Court orders a hand recount of all ballots from the tribe’s June 25 election. The count is to be used as part of Smith’s appeal and not to determine the next chief.

July 17: A hand recount of ballots concludes that Smith finished five votes ahead of challenger Baker. A court hearing is set for Tuesday in the appeal.

July 21: Cherokee Supreme Court invalidates June election.

Aug. 22: Cherokee Supreme Court ends freedmen descendants' tribal citizenship, upholding 2007 referendum in which tribal members voted to amend the Cherokee constitution to exclude them.

Sept. 20: Agreement reached in federal court to allow freedmen to vote in second election.

Sept. 24: Second election for principal chief held.

Oct. 9: Ballot counting in second election begins.

Oct. 12: Official results show Baker defeated Smith 10,703 votes to 9,128.

Oct. 17: Smith files an appeal with the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court contesting the results of the tribe's special election.

Oct. 19: The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court denies Smith's appeal.

Oct. 19: Baker is sworn in as chief.

ELECTED PRINCIPAL CHIEFS
1971-75: W.W. Keeler (Keeler was the presidentially appointed chief of the Cherokees 1949-71)

1975-85: Ross Swimmer

1985-95: Wilma Mankiller

1995-1999: Joe Byrd

1999-2011 : Chad Smith

2011-? : Bill John Baker
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