Cherokee chief, deputy chief and councilors to be sworn in

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) – The Cherokee Nation’s chief and deputy chief will be sworn in for their second terms next week, along with eight other tribal councilors.

The Tahlequah-based tribe announced the inauguration for Principal Chief Bill John Baker and Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden will be August 14th in the Sequoyah High School gym.

Baker handily won re-election in June, defeating ex-chief Chad Smith and two others to avoid a runoff after picking up 55 percent of the vote.

Tribal councilors Rex Jordan, David Walkingstick, Shawn Crittenden, Dick Lay, Buel Anglen, Bryan Warner, Keith Austin and Wanda Hatfield will also be sworn in.

Baker leads a tribe of 320,000 people, a workforce of 9,000 and controls a budget approaching $1 billion.