By Tony Choate, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

ADA, Okla. - The Chickasaw Nation Election Commission announces the candidates seeking Legislative and Supreme Court seats within the Chickasaw Nation. The filing period closed Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 4:30 p.m.

Filing for tribal legislative district races include:

• Pontotoc District Seat 3: Incumbent Katie Case, challenger Nancy Elliott.
• Pontotoc District Seat 4: Incumbent Dean McManus did not receive a challenger.
• Pickens District Seat 2: Incumbent Donna Hartman, challengers Charles F. Lewis and Connie Barker.  
• Tishomingo District Seat 3: Incumbent Steven E. Woods did not receive a challenger.  
• Supreme Court, Seat 3: Incumbent Cheri L. Bellefeuille-Gordon did not receive a challenger. 

The candidates that did not receive a challenger will be elected by a one vote margin, by the act of filing for office shall be counted as an affirmative vote.

Registered Chickasaw voters will be voting by mail ballots with ballots being mailed July 14, 2008 and returned to Chickasaw Election Commission no later than 10:30 a.m. on July 29, 2008. No hand delivered ballots will be accepted.

The Chickasaw Nation Election Commission shall conduct and supervise the ballot counting at the Chickasaw Community Center in Ada on July 29, 2008 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Results of the elections shall be announced the same day.

For information, contact Rita Loder, election secretary, at (580) 310-6475.