Meredith Frailey is a Cherokee Nation politician who served on the Cherokee Nation tribal council from 2003 to 2013.

Meredith Frailey
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 6th district, Seat 2
In office
August 14, 2007 – August 14, 2013
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition disestablished
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 6th district
In office
August 14, 2003 – August 14, 2007
Serving with Johnny Keener
Preceded byStephanie Wickliffe-Shepherd
Succeeded byMulti-member district disestablished
Personal details
EducationNortheastern State University
University of Tulsa College of Law

Education

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Meredith Frailey graduated from Locust Grove High School and went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa College of Law.[1]

Tribal Council

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Frailey was first elected to the Cherokee Nation tribal council in 2003 in the multi-member district 6 alongside incumbent Johnny Keener, and defeating incumbent Stephanie Wickliffe-Shepherd.[2] In 2006, she was elected Speaker of the Tribal Council for a two-year term.[3] After an amendment to election law split multi-member districts, Frailey ran unopposed for the new District 6, Seat 2 in 2007.[4] In 2009, Frailey attended the inauguration of U.S. president Barack Obama.[5] After another round of redistricting, Frailey lost her re-election campaign for the new 15th district to Janees Taylor in 2013.[6] Principal Chief Chad Smith filed a lawsuit on her behalf requesting a runoff between her and Taylor, but the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled against the lawsuit.[7][8]

In 2021, Frailey ran in the 2021 Cherokee Nation tribal council elections for district 15.[9] She lost the election to Danny Callison.[10]

Deputy chief campaigns

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In 2019, Frailey ran for deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation against Bryan Warner and Linda Sacks.[11] Warner won the general election and avoided a runoff with 58% of the vote.[12]

Frailey ran in the 2023 Cherokee Nation deputy chief election and lost to incumbent deputy chief Bryan Warner.[13][14]

Electoral history

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2023 Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Election[14]
Candidate Votes %
Bryan Warner 10,300 61.54%
David Walkingstick 4,901 29.28%
Meredith Frailey 1,147 6.85%
Bill Pearson 389 2.32%
Total votes 16,737 100%

References

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  1. ^ "Cherokee Council and Administration 2003–2007". Cherokee Phoenix. August 8, 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. ^ Chavez, Will (June 5, 2003). "Grayson, Chapman in runoff". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ^ Snell, Travis (July 14, 2006). "Council weighs by-blood citizenship measure". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ^ Chavez, Will (July 11, 2007). "Smith wins another term as chief". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  5. ^ Murphy, Jami (December 31, 2008). "Cherokee officials to attend Obama inauguration". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  6. ^ Murphy, Jami (June 25, 2013). "Tribal Council election results certified". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ^ Murphy, Jami (July 3, 2013). "Frailey wants Dist. 15 election results invalidated". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. ^ Murphy, Jami (July 12, 2013). "CN Supreme Court issues decision on Dist. 15 election". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  9. ^ Hunter, Chad (February 5, 2021). "Crowded field in Tribal Council races as filing period ends". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  10. ^ Bark, Lindsey (June 6, 2021). "Callison wins Dist. 15 Tribal Council seat". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  11. ^ Hunter, Chad (February 8, 2019). "36 file for Cherokee Nation government seats". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  12. ^ Hunter, Chad (June 2, 2019). "UPDATED: Warner prevails in deputy chief race". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  13. ^ Hunter, Chad (February 9, 2023). "41 file for office in Cherokee Nation". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b Rowley, D. Sean (June 4, 2023). "Warner re-elected as CN deputy chief". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 June 2023.