Four incumbents win re-election bids in 2023 General Election

(CONCHO, OK) On Nov. 7 Cheyenne and Arapaho voters chose their candidates for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Legislature and Election Commission.

Four legislative incumbents won their re-election bids for another term, Arapaho District 3 Legislator Travis Ruiz, Cheyenne District 1 Legislator Bruce Whiteman Jr. and Arapaho District 4 Legislator Rector Candy

The fourth incumbent to win his re-election bid was Arapaho District 1 Election Commissioner Ray Mosqueda.

Being elected to their first term is Thomas Trout, Cheyenne District 3 Legislator and Kelly Loneman, Arapaho District 2 Election Commissioner.

According to the official election results released from the Election Commission, a total of 920 registered voters cast a vote, either in person or by absentee ballot, in the 2023 General Election. The breakdown was 70 votes in Arapaho District 1, 154 votes in Arapaho District 2, 140 votes in Arapaho District 3, 18 votes in Arapaho District 4, 189 votes in Cheyenne District 1 and 349 votes in Cheyenne District 3.

Per the 2006 Constitution, Article IX-Elections, Section 14-Oath of Office, it states, “A justice of the Supreme Court shall administer the Oath of Office for all newly elected officials of the Tribes on the first Saturday of January following an election. The Oath of Office shall require all elected officials to swear an oath and an allegiance to serve all the People of the Tribes, to refuse all gifts or favors in exchange for official action, or to refrain from providing any gifts, favors or money in exchange for political gain, and to uphold the Constitution of the Tribes.”

Under the Constitution district legislators serve four-year staggered terms of office and are eligible to serve three consecutive terms. Once completed, the legislator shall not be eligible to serve on the legislature until a period of two years has elapsed. A partial term is considered one full term. (Art. VI-Legislative Branch, Sec. 3-Terms)

Election commissioners are elected to serve a four-year term, however term limits are not stated within the 2006 Constitution. 

Article IX, Sec. 3(a) reads: “There shall be an Election Commission to conduct all elections in a fair and impartial manner in accordance with laws of the Tribes. The Election Commission shall select one of its members to serve as the Chairman of the Election Commission. The Legislature shall not have Executive or administrative authority over the Election Commission.”

Article IX, Sec. 3(b) Election Commission: “The Election Commission shall consist of eight members with one Cheyenne member and one Arapaho member from each district. The members of the Election Commission shall be elected from their respective districts to serve a term of four years. Elected officials of the Tribes shall not be eligible to serve on the Election Commission.”

By Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief

To read the full Nov. 15, 2023 issue click here: https://www.cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov/public-affairs/tribal-tribune