Fifteen shareholders have filed their candidacies for eight open seats on the 5th Osage Minerals Council.
This is the first time in the reformed government’s history that the minerals council election race is bigger than that of the Osage Nation Congressional race. In the congressional race, 13 candidates filed during a registration period that spanned 35 days. The candidate registration period opened for the OMC election on March 1 and ended on March 15.
OMC candidates must be Osage shareholders and acquire 25 signatures from Osage shareholders to run. The signatures must then be approved by the OMC election office for the candidate to be certified. The deadline for OMC candidates to turn in their 25 signatures is April 4.
The Minerals Council “Election Designee,” as named in federal law, is Billie Ponca and the “Assistant Election Designee” is Nikki Revard Lorenzo. The 10-member OMC election board is made up of five judges and five clerks. The judges are Donna Barrone, Gene Bowline, Rhonda Wallace, Melvina Prather and Teresa Rutherford. The clerks are Beverly Brownfield, Sharon Damron, Galen Crum, Jan Tallchief and Julie Malone. The board is responsible for facilitating the election on June 6 and will also help in tabulating the winners. The OMC election office is using the company True Ballot for its election needs.
The election notice to the more than 5,000 eligible Osage shareholders will be mailed this week, according to Malone.
Listed below are the Minerals Council candidates and the order in which they filed:
1. Justin Patterson, filed March 1
2. Joe Cheshewalla, filed March 1
3. Myron Red Eagle, filed March 1 (Incumbent)
4. Jeff Patten, filed March 1
5. Paul Revard, filed March 1 (Incumbent)
6. Melissa Currey, filed March 2
7. Dana Maker Murrell, filed March 3
8. Margo Gray, filed March 4 (Incumbent)
9. Stephanie Erwin, filed March 7
10. Jimmy Osage Dailey, filed March 7
11. Cynthia Boone, filed March 8
12. Talee Redcorn, filed March 11 (Incumbent)
13. Everett Waller, filed March 15 (Incumbent)
14. Anthony Shackelford, filed March 15
15. Kenny Bighorse Jr., filed March 15
Election Day for Osage shareholders is on June 6 and coincides with the Nation’s General Election.
The Osage News is hosting an April 30 debate for the candidates running for the OMC, chief, assistant chief, and Congress. The debate will be hosted at the Osage County Fairgrounds in the Ag Building from 1-6 p.m. An Osage meal will be served.
The OMC election office is located at 813 Grandview Ave., in the OMC chamber offices. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information on the Minerals Council election, call (918) 287-0010.
