Mississippi Band of Choctaw Tribal Chief to be Decided on July 5 in Run-off Election

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Run-Off Election

PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI - Incumbent Beasley Denson, tribal chief - or miko - of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will face challenger Phyliss Anderson in a run-off election on July 5 for tribal chief.

The Tribal Election Committee certified the election results from this past Tuesday late Thursday.

In Tuesday's election Miko Denson received 1,667 votes and Anderson with 890.

The run-off election is held within Tribal law that stipulates a run-off election must be held within 30 days of the original election.

Also on July 5 a run-off election will be held between Robert Briscoe and incumbent Berdie M. Steve who tied with 71 votes each for a seat on the Tribal Council.

The following were certified winners by the Tribal Election Committee on Thursday for seats on the Tribal Council: Harrison Ben, incumbent Cyrus Ben, Richard Isaac and incumbent Myrtle Ben, Linda McMillan, incumbent Sammy Clemmons, Jr. and Jesse Thomas.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, under the esteemed leadership of Miko Beasley Denson, has an enrolled membership of over 10,000 and is the only federally recognized tribe in the State of Mississippi. Headquartered in the Pearl River community, near Philadelphia, Mississippi, the Tribe has emerged as a leader in economic development. The Tribe provides a range of governmental services for its members including schools, a hospital, medical clinics, police and fire protection, courts, an elderly center, among many others.

posted June 18, 2011 6:37 am et