Candidates named for Comanche general election ballot

Candidates have been certified and are on the ballot for the upcoming Comanche Nation general election.

Nominations were taken last Saturday during the annual tribal council meeting at Watchetaker Hall at the Comanche Nation Tribal Complex, 9 miles north of Lawton.

Following certification from the Comanche Nation Election Board, nominees were named for the following positions on Thursday afternoon: chairman, vice chairman, tribal administrator and tribal attorney.

Nominees:

•Chairman: Forrest Tahdooahnippah and Michael Burgess.

•Vice Chairman: Diana Gail Doyebi-Sovo and Baliente Herrera.

•Justin Boos, Lori Ann Stropes and Lisa Dawsey.

•Attorney: Corwe & Dunlevy, Rosette LLP and CEIBA Legal, PC (Timothy Harjo).

Members of the Comanche Nation Election Board were also selected: Deborah Hendrix, Eleanor McDaniel, Deloris Woosypitti, J.W. Marshall and Sandra Toyekoyah.

The $56,939,490 line-item budget from gaming, including the proposed $18,850,000 per capita distribution of gaming revenue and $2.35 million elder payment will be on the upcoming general election ballot.

Upcoming election calendar dates:

•April 30, last day to request an absentee ballot for the general election.

•May 10, early in-person voting for the general election.

•May 11, general election; absentee ballots due at the Lawton Post Office by noon.

•May 14, election certification by 5 p.m.

•May 24, last day to request absentee ballots for the runoff election.

•June 7, early in-person voting for the runoff election.

•June 8, runoff election; absentee ballots due at the Lawton Post Office by noon.

•June 11, election certification by 5 p.m.