David Walkingstick
David Walkingstick | |
|---|---|
| Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 3rd district | |
| In office August 14, 2013 – August 14, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Wes Nofire |
| Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 1st district, seat 2 | |
| In office August 14, 2011 – August 14, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position disestablished |
| Personal details | |
| Education | University of Central Oklahoma (B.S.) East Central University (M.S.) |
David Walkingstick is a Cherokee Nation politician who served on the Cherokee Nation tribal council between 2011 and 2019.
Education and career
David Walkingstick graduated from Sequoyah High School in 1999, and went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master's degree in school administration from East Central University.[1] He was the Muskogee Public Schools' Indian Education Program director from 2010 to 2018.[2][3] He resigned after a petition was presented to the school board asking for him to be fired for his stance in the Cherokee freedmen controversy.[3] He was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin to the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education in 2014.[1]
Cherokee Nation tribal council
That same year, Walkingstick proposed appealing the 2017 federal court case Cherokee Nation v. Nash which resulted in the recognition of Cherokee Freedmen's citizenship; he also supported the since voided 2007 amendment to the Cherokee constitution that limited citizenship to "Cherokee by blood."[4]
Campaigns for principal chief and deputy chief
Walkingstick filed to run in the 2019 Cherokee Nation principal chief election.[5] During the campaign, Walkingstick called for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to oversee the elections after the Cherokee Nation Election Commission disqualified candidate Wanda Hatfield for violating Cherokee Nation election law.[6] In April, an election law violation complaint was filled against his campaign and in May the Cherokee Nation election commission ordered Cherokees for Change LLC to stop contributing to his and Meredith Frailey's campaigns.[7][8] Later that month, the Election Commission disqualified him from the election for coordinating with the LLC; Walkingstick denied any connection despite an affidavit from the LLC's owner Walkingstick knew of their activities.[9] The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court upheld his disqualification.[10] Since Walkingstick was disqualified after ballots were printed, signs were put up at polling places informing voters of his disqualification.[11] Chuck Hoskin Jr. went on to win the election.[12] Walkingstick ran in the 2023 Cherokee Nation deputy chief election and lost to incumbent deputy chief Bryan Warner.[13][14]
Electoral history
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Warner | 10,300 | 61.54% | |
| David Walkingstick | 4,901 | 29.28% | |
| Meredith Frailey | 1,147 | 6.85% | |
| Bill Pearson | 389 | 2.32% | |
| Total votes | 16,737 | 100% | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Walkingstick to serve on state Indian education council". Cherokee Phoenix. September 8, 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Turner, Emily (July 6, 2010). "Cherokee Nation citizen retires from education post". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Henson, Kenlea (January 29, 2018). "Walkingstick resigns as Muskogee School's Indian Ed director". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Boston, Stacie (November 18, 2017). "Walkingstick wants Freedmen ruling appealed". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (February 8, 2019). "36 file for Cherokee Nation government seats". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (April 24, 2019). "Walkingstick, Hoskin disagree over federalizing Cherokee election". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (April 27, 2019). "Complaints filed with EC against Walkingstick". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (May 7, 2019). "Election Commission orders Cherokees for Change to stop campaign contributions". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (May 18, 2019). "Walkingstick disqualified from Cherokee Nation chief's race". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (May 29, 2019). "Supreme Court upholds Walkingstick disqualification". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Hunter, Chad (May 31, 2019). "Notices regarding disqualified candidates to be posted at voting sites". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Rowley, D. Sean (June 2, 2019). "UPDATED: Hoskin wins Cherokee Nation principal chief race". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ Rowley, D. Sean (April 14, 2023). "Chief, deputy chief candidates' debate is April 25". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Rowley, D. Sean (June 4, 2023). "Warner re-elected as CN deputy chief". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 June 2023.