PAWHUSKA, Okla. – Pending election board certification, the ballot is now set for the Osage Nation’s first executive branch primary election.
Tom Boone Jr., Margo Gray, John D. Red Eagle and Geoffrey StandingBear have all filed paperwork to run for principal chief.
Red Eagle, the incumbent, is facing a six-count impeachment trial that is scheduled to start Monday morning. If removed from office, Red Eagle would not be eligible for any elected or appointed positions within the tribe.
Additionally, five candidates have filed for assistant chief. They include Randolph Crawford, James “Osage” Dailey, Terry Mason Moore, Amanda Proctor and Raymond Red Corn.
The primary election is scheduled for March 10, with in-person early voting available March 7-8. The top two finishers in each race will square off in the June 2 general election. Absentee ballot requests must be submitted to the Osage Nation Election Office by Feb. 10.
In 2011, the Osage Nation Congress voted to implement a primary election for executive branch races rather than using a run-off in an effort to complete the election cycle earlier in the year and to minimize campaigning at the tribe’s ceremonial dances during the summer.
Osage Nation congressional candidates may file for office March 14-31. Six seats will be on the June general election ballot.
