| Updated: 10/19/2011 11:14 pm |
Published: 10/19/2011 2:37 pm
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At last the Cherokee Nation can put a controversial and seemingly never-ending election behind it. Bill John Baker was formally sworn in as the new Principal Chief Wednesday night in Tahlequah.
Wednesday afternoon, the Cherokee Supreme Court dismissed a final appeal from former chief, Chad Smith, paving the way for the last minute inauguration.
Smith had argued votes other than freedmen votes were cast after election day in the second election for chief. The first election was thrown out over the summer.
But 116 days after Cherokee voters first cast their ballots, back on June 25, Baker took over the largest Indian tribe in the United States.
Baker was sworn in by Cherokee Supreme Court justice James Wilcoxen on the steps of the Cherokee courthouse, in front of hundreds of cheering supporters.
"I am feeling great relief," Baker said earlier Wednesday afternoon after the court threw out Smith's appeal. "That prayers are answered, and that we can finally walk in the front doors of the Cherokee Nation tomorrow and literally start a new day."
Baker was practically giddy Wednesday afternoon, sitting in his Tahlequah furniture store.
"I'm tickled for the people, and I'm tickled for my family and my volunteers," he said.
But first thing Thursday morning, Baker said he would be ready to get down to business, focusing on three main issues.
"It's health care, housing and jobs."
And after a divisive election that seemed to drag on forever, the new Chief says his first goal is to bring the Cherokee Nation back together.
"If you're Cherokee, we all came from one fire. We're all family. And families squabble. But blood is thicker than water."
A larger, more formal inauguration ceremoney has been scheduled for Sunday, Noevember 6 at Sequoyah High School.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Chad Smith had the following to say about the Court's decision to dismiss his appeal:
"I understand our Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has dismissed my appeal of the Election. I acknowledge that Bill John Baker has been elected to the Office of Principal Chief and offer him any help I may provide in building the Nation I so love, and have been honored to serve for the past 12 years," former Chief Chad Smith said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
