Election Limbo Part II, Day 17: Unofficial Results are in!

Baker hugs his mom after the unofficial results
were announced tonight.
Photo Courtesy of Tulsa World.

Almost all the votes have been counted, and we have what APPEARS to be a winner in the chief's race:  Bill John Baker.  According to the Cherokee Nation web site, Baker has 10,633 votes and Smith has 9099 in the unofficial results.

The Associated Press story has quotes from both Smith and Baker.  Smith said he was "disappointed... not just for myself but also for the people who worked so hard on this campaign, and the thousands upon thousands of Cherokees who supported this campaign and what we stand for."

Baker told the reporters: "The Cherokee people have spoken and I am humbled and honored to be selected to lead our great nation the next four years ... this has been a difficult and tough campaign for everyone but the campaign is behind us."

The Tulsa World also had some good quotes from the candidates and information on the election and an otherwise blockbuster decision from the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, but that's probably fodder for tomorrow's Cherokee Truth.  Tonight it is enough to know that unless our Election Commission accidentally counted 1000 votes for Baker that should've been for Smith, or unless some unlikely appeal occurs, we know who our next chief will be.