[June 17, 2011] Candidates spending from war chests in 11th hour [Tahlequah Daily Press, Okla.] Tweet (Tahlequah Daily Press (OK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) June 17--TAHLEQUAH -- Cherokee Nation citizens head to the polls in a little over a week, and candidates have submitted the second of four financial disclosure reports. The reports include campaign income, transfers -- or loans -- to campaign funds, as well as expenditures and repayment of campaign funds. The two candidates for chief, incumbent Chad Smith and Bill John Baker, submitted reports May 16, the latest available at press time. The reports indicate campaign revenue for both candidates is slightly less than that collected in April, with Smith receiving $78,176.35, compared to $107,539.45, and Baker receiving $59,605.62, compared to $102,451.64. Of Smith's May report total, $38,969 came from contributions, $38,559.93 came from fundraising activities, and $647.42 was through direct expenditures by others. Baker raised $20,015 in contributions and received $6,861.64 in direct expenditures by others. He also reported $7,018.49 in loans from himself to his campaign. Cherokee Nation election law does not limit the amount of money a candidate can loan his or her own campaign; donations are capped at $5,000 per individual. The Baker campaign only had one donation for the maximum amount between April 12 and May 16 -- from George Glover, a retiree from Muskogee. The Smith campaign received maximum donations from four individuals, including Herman Meinders, an executive from Oklahoma City; Margaret Swimmer, a Tulsa attorney; William K. Warren Jr., a Tulsa executive; and Suzanne M. Warren, also a Tulsa executive. Smith's campaign expenditures total $56,186.90, with the bulk -- $15,909.97 -- being spent on printing, followed by advertisements at $14,633.55, and postage at $13,523.75. Baker's campaign expenditures total $49,417.22 for the month, with the bulk -- $22,124.32 -- being listed as miscellaneous expenses, followed by $11,605.03 in postage. Along with important decisions about elected leadership, Cherokee Nation voters will also determine the outcome of three amendments to their constitution. Two of three ballot measures deal with term limits for elected officials. A vote in favor of Resolution No. 20-09 would remove the current two-term limit placed on the offices of principal chief and deputy principal chief. A vote to approve Resolution No. 19-11 would likewise remove the current two-term limit from tribal council seats. In point-counterpoint editorials published in the Cherokee Phoenix, CN Tribal Councilor Cara Cowan-Watts and Cherokee Phoenix Executive Editor Bryan Pollard outlined their opinions on the subject. Cowan-Watts came out against term limits, while Pollard supports the idea. "Some advocates for term limits believe limits bring fresh leadership to the table," wrote Cowan-Watts. "I believe otherwise for two reasons. One, our population is small. Therefore, we risk a limited pool to draw from those who can, will and want to run. Two, term limits would deter great leadership from all demographics. I want all ages to run for office. Cherokees with a decent career path in front of them will likely never consider office if they know they will have to fight their way back into their industry as an older individual without continuous industry experience. Our elected leadership should not be limited to those who are retired, personally wealthy or small business owners. The Cherokee voters are the ultimate governing body of the CN and not term limits." Pollard believes term limits reinforce accountability. "Term limitation is vital to an engaged and truly representative democracy," wrote Pollard. "Although I will argue that term limits increase accountability, discourage corruption and increase electoral competition, I believe the dividing line of this debate is a choice between creating a culture of career politicians versus maintaining a true citizen government." A third measure, Resolution No. 21-11, concerns how to fill vacancies on the tribal council that might occur between elections. A council seat may become vacant through the death of a council member, a council member's resignation or by the removal of a council member. An unforeseen health crisis might also render a councilor unable to perform his or her duty. If a council seat becomes vacant mid-term, the current process calls for the seat to be filled by the candidate who received the next highest amount of votes in that district. If approved, the measure calls for the council to authorize a special election to fill the vacant seat when more than a year remains in the four-year term. A "no" vote on any of these measures would mean that the existing language in the Cherokee Nation Constitution would remain the same. Registered tribal voters unable to vote in person in the June 25 election but who missed getting an absentee ballot can still vote as an "in-person absentee," an early walk-in voting option. In-person, absentee voting is available to all registered voters, and will take place at the Cherokee Nation Election Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 18, and Tuesday, June 21, through Thursday, June 23. The Cherokee Nation Election Office is at 2116 S. Bald Hill Road. A run-off election will be held on Saturday, July 23, to decide any races in which the candidate with the most votes did not receive more than 50 percent of the vote. Voters may request absentee ballots for that election by requesting them from the CN Election Office through Monday, July 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, June 25, for the general election. District 1 precincts include: --Sequoyah Schools, 17091 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah. --Briggs School, 17210 S. 569 Road, Tahlequah. --Lowrey School Library, 21132 E. 640 Road, Tahlequah. --Keys High School Cafeteria, 26622 S. 540 Road, Park Hill. --Hulbert Town Hall, 111 E. Main, Hulbert. --Okay Senior Citizens Center, 3701 E. 75th St. (Main Street), Okay. For precinct locations in other districts, or for more information on the Cherokee Nation election, call (800) 353-2895, or visit www. cherokee.org/OurGovern ment/Commissions/Elec tion/Default.aspx. ___ To see more of the Tahlequah Daily Press or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Tahlequah Daily Press, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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