Melvina Shotpouch Explained

Melvina Shotpouch
Office:Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor
Term Start:August 14, 2021
Predecessor:Harley Buzzard
Constituency:10th district
Term Start1:1999
Term End1:2007
Successor1:Harley Buzzard
Constituency1:5th district
Term Start2:1991
Term End2:1995
Citizenship:American
Cherokee Nation

Melvina Shotpouch is a Cherokee Nation politician who has served on the Cherokee Nation tribal council since 2021. She served three prior terms on the council from 1991 to 1995 and from 1999 to 2007.

Biography

Melvina Shotpouch was first elected during the tenure of Wilma Mankiller in 1991 and served until 1995. She was re-elected in 1999 to a second term.[1] Shotpouch was re-elected in 2003 alongside Linda Hughes O'Leary to represent the multi-member district 5 of the Cherokee Nation tribal council.[2] She ran for re-election in 2007, but lost re-election to Harley Buzzard.[3] [4] She filed to run for the 10th district in 2013, but was disqualified from running for living 1000 feet outside the district.[5] When Buzzard was term limited in 2021 Shotpouch filed to succeed them representing the 10th district.[6] After a June general election, she advanced to a July runoff with Shaunda Handle-Davis.[7] She won the runoff election with 58.8% of the vote and was sworn in on August 14, 2021.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Bark . Lindsey . Shotpouch returns for 4th term on Tribal Council . 12 November 2023 . . September 6, 2021.
  2. News: Chavez . Will . Grayson, Chapman in runoff . 12 November 2023 . . June 5, 2023.
  3. News: Snell . Travis . 45 candidates file for 19 seats . 12 November 2023 . . March 12, 2007.
  4. News: Good Voice . Christina . Outgoing councilors bid farewell . 12 November 2023 . . August 16, 2007.
  5. News: Murphy . Jami . EC rules Shotpouch as ineligible candidate . 12 November 2023 . . April 24, 2013.
  6. News: Hunter . Chad . Crowded field in Tribal Council races as filing period ends . 12 November 2023 . . February 5, 2021.
  7. News: Hunter . Chad . Handle-Davis, Shotpouch top Dist. 10 race . 12 November 2023 . . June 6, 2021.
  8. News: Tomlinson . Joe . Cherokee Nation runoff: Two candidates request recounts, consider challenges . 12 November 2023 . NonDoc . 28 July 2021.
  9. News: Rowley . D. Sean . 9 Cherokee Nation councilors take oath of office during ceremony . 12 November 2023 . . August 17, 2021.