By Tony Choate, Office of Media Relations

Chickasaw Nation Election Secretary Rita Loder today announced the results of the special election to fill Pontotoc District Seat 1 of the tribal legislature.

Because none of the candidates received more than 50 percent of the vote, the two top finishers, Mark A. Johnson and Toby Perkins, will meet in a run-off election. Johnson received 27% of the votes while Perkins received 20%.

Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby called the special election to fill the unexpired term of Holly Easterling, who resigned effective Oct. 14, 2010.

Seven candidates filed for the election. Vote totals for all candidates are included below.

Ballots for the run-off will be mailed Dec. 20, 2010 and counted on Jan. 4, 2011. Completed ballots must be returned to the election office by 10:30 a.m. Jan. 4 to be counted.

For more information, call Chickasaw Nation Election Secretary Rita Loder at 1-888-661-0137
 
Mark A. Johnson 671 votes - 27%
Toby Perkins 482 votes - 20%
Todd Griffith 425 votes - 17%
Mary Ruth Barnes 369 votes - 15%
Kimberly Factor Hazlett 270 - votes - 11%
Heath Allison 161 votes - 7%
Jeremy D. Oliver 70 votes - 3%