By Tony Choate, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

Chickasaw Nation Election Secretary Rita Loder announced that Connie Barker, Marietta, is the winner of the runoff election for Pickens District Seat 2 in the tribal Legislature.

Barker defeated incumbent Donna Hartman, Overbrook.

Barker received 1,205 votes (57%), while Hartman received 900 votes (43%).

The runoff election was required after none of the three candidates in the July 29 general election received more than 50 percent of the vote.

Hartman received 901 votes (45%) in the general election, while Barker received 729 votes (37%). Charles Lewis finished third with 361 votes (18%).

Katie Case, Ada, won election to Pontotoc District Seat 3 in the only other contested seat in the general election.
Incumbent legislators Dean McManus, Ada, and Steven Woods, Sulphur, were unchallenged.

Sitting Chickasaw Nation Supreme Court Justice Cheri L. Bellefeuille Gordon, Sulphur, was also unchallenged.

Elected officials will take the oath of office 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1.

For more information, call Loder at (580) 310-6475 or (888) 661-0137.