Joe Crittenden Explained

Joe Crittenden
Office:Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the Cherokee Nation
Term Start:2019
Predecessor:position established
Office2:Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Term Start2:October 19, 2011
Term End2:August 14, 2019
Predecessor2:Joe Grayson
Successor2:Bryan Warner
Office3:Interim Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Term Start3:July 2011
Term End3:October 19, 2011
Predecessor3:Chad Smith
Successor3:Bill John Baker
Office4:Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor
Term Start4:2003
Term End4:2011

Joe Crittenden (né Stanley Joe Crittenden; born 1944) is a Cherokee Nation politician who has served as the Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veteran Affairs since 2019. He previously served on the tribal council, as deputy chief, and Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 2011.

Career

Crittenden was elected to the Cherokee Nation tribal council in 2003.[1] In 2011 he was elected deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation, but a dispute in the election for principal chief requiring a special election required him to briefly serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.[2] After Bill John Baker was elected, he succeeded Crittendon who resumed his position as deputy chief. He was re-elected deputy chief in 2015.[3] In 2019, the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled that Crittendon could not run for a third consecutive term in 2019, even though he did not serve the entirety of his first term due to serving as acting Principal Chief, because the Cherokee Constitution limits elected officials to two consecutive terms.[4] His term ended on August 14, 2019. In 2019, he was appointed as the first Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veterans Affairs by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Hunter . Chad . Crittenden says run as deputy chief pinnacle of career . 17 April 2023 . . August 30, 2019.
  2. News: Chavez . Will . Crittenden certified as deputy chief-elect . 17 April 2023 . . July 24, 2011.
  3. News: Murphy . Jami . UPDATE: Crittenden re-elected as deputy chief . 17 April 2023 . . June 29, 2015.
  4. News: Snell . Travis . Supreme Court: Baker, Crittenden can't run in 2019 . 17 April 2023 . . November 1, 2018.
  5. News: Bark . Lindsey . Crittenden nominated as first Cherokee Nation Veterans Affairs secretary . 17 April 2023 . . August 19, 2019.
  6. News: Hunter . Chad . Hoskin reflects on first year in office . 17 April 2023 . . August 21, 2020.