PCI runoff election Saturday
Published 1:27 pm Wednesday, July 31, 2013
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians will be holding elections Saturday to decide between four candidates facing off in runoff campaigns for two tribal seats.
David Gehman, the incumbent candidate for the position of tribal secretary, will face challenger Tim Ramer, while incumbent candidate Robert McGhee will face challenger Gia Langham for the tribal treasurer seat.
Gehman and McGhee received the most votes for their respective seats during the tribe’s regularly scheduled elections held in June, but failed to defeat Ramer and Langham by the required 50 percent, according to Election Board Chairperson Edie Jackson.
Jackson said Gehman received 413 total votes, while Ramer received a total of 333 votes. McGhee, meanwhile, received 525 votes to Langham’s 179.
Gehman enters Saturday’s runoff as the first elected official to the office of tribal secretary after being voted in in 2010. He previously served in the position as an appointed official. Ramer currently serves as the director of guest services for PCI gaming.
McGhee also enters Saturday’s election with experience under his belt, having served on the tribal council for two terms. Langham currently serves as an executive assistant with the PCI legal department.
According to Jackson, the runoff elections will take place Saturday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the PCI SAIL Center. Winners will be announced in the PCI gymnasium immediately following the count Saturday night.