Incumbents retain seats in PCI election; run-off needed for treasurer

Published 8:35 am Sunday, June 7, 2015

All three incumbents retained their seats in the Tribal Council election of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians on Saturday.

According to uncertified election results released by the Tribal Election Board on Saturday night, incumbent at-large council members Sandy Hollinger and Keith Martin earned re-election. Robbie McGhee also won re-election for the vice chairman seat, which he had been holding after a special election in December.

The race for treasurer will require a run-off election between Eddie L. Tullis, a former PCI Tribal Chair, and Gia Langham. The run-off will be held Saturday, Aug. 1. Tullis received 556 votes, and Langham was second with 285 votes. Interim treasurer Arthur Mothershed did not run. The treasurer is typically a three-year term, but only one year remains on this term.

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McGhee fended off a challenge by Tribal Council at-large member Garvis Sells and Carolyn “McGhee” White, who was the write-in candidate in the December special election. McGhee earned 928 votes, while Sells had 330 and White had 120.

A total of 1,383 PCI members voted in the election. There were 247 absentee ballots and 587 walk-in ballots counted, and 549 voted in person on Saturday.

The complete election results were as follows:

At-large Tribal Council member (two seats) — Sandy Hollinger, incumbent, 729 votes; Keith Martin, incumbent, 675 votes; Sheila Rolin Odom, 336 votes; Gloria Sells Krafka, 268 votes; Deno Rolin, 253 votes; Elizabeth Hebert, 224 votes; Anita McGhee Tuel, 98 votes; write-in, 8 votes.

Vice chairman — Robbie McGhee, incumbent, 928 votes; Garvis Sells, 330 votes; Carolyn “McGhee” White, 120 votes.

Treasurer — Eddie L. Tullis, 556 votes; Gia Langham, 285 votes; Charlotte “McGhee” Meckel, 273 votes; Dewitt C. Carter, 258 votes; write-in, 1 vote.