Bob Shiles
Staff Writer
PEMBROKE — Lumbee tribal members on Tuesday elected Paul Brooks, a Pembroke businessman and longtime civic leader, to serve the remaining year of former Chairman Purnell Swett’s term. He replaces Chairwoman Sharon Hunt, who has held the position since Swett’s resignation in May.
“It has been an honor and privilege to lead the tribe over the past few months, especially during these turbulent times,” said Hunt, who chose not to run for the position. “It is my hope that the new tribal chairman will continue to open communication with the tribal membership as well as with the Tribal Council.
Brooks, with 1,797 votes, defeated challengers Steve Sampson, 1,123 votes, Jo Ann Chavis Lowery, 1,034 votes, and Lynn Bruce Jacobs, 72 votes. Sampson is currently the speaker for the Lumbee Tribal Council, Lowery is the current chairman of Robeson County’s Board of Education, and Jacobs is a local businessman, retired Army officer and ordained minister.
“I’ll think I’ll relax a little and go fishing,” Brooks said jokingly. He currently serves as chairman of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs and sits on the board of the state’s Golden LEAF Foundation.
According to Alex Baker, a tribal spokesman, if there are no challenges to the election results, votes will be certified at 5 p.m. Monday. The new chairman can be sworn in anytime after the certification of votes, Baker said.
Brooks said that he is taking over the tribe’s leadership with no immediate plans for changing the way tribal government operates.
“There are a lot of things out there that need to be done, but I have no particular change in mind. I’m coming in with a completely open mind,” he said. “I need to look at things and understand what needs to be done before I make any changes.”
Brooks said that he has a “long-term plan” for the tribe and would consider running again for the chairman’s position when an election is held again next November. He added that he is a supporter of “transparency,” the operation of government affairs in public.
When it was evident that he could not defeat Brooks, Sampson phoned and congratulated the chairman-elect.
“I feel a little disappointed, but I look forward to continuing to work diligently on the Tribal Council,” Sampson, who was first elected to the council in 2007, said. “I appreciate those who came out and voted for me and those who worked on my campaign. I look forward to continuing to represent my constituents in District 8 on the council, as well as representing the tribe as a whole as the speaker for the Tribal Council.”
Jacobs, contacted by phone, said that lack of name recognition throughout the community was a major factor in his defeat.
“The people got what they wanted. That’s what elections are all about,” Jacobs said. “In tribal elections, the people win or lose, not the candidates That is the way it has always been with our people.”
Jacobs also said that he is already planning his 2012 campaign for tribal chairman.
Lowery was in Greensboro on Tuesday night attending the North Carolina School Boards Association’s annual meeting. When reached by photo, she declined to comment.
While voters in all 14 of the tribe’s voting districts cast ballots for the chairman, voters in seven districts also elected representatives to serve on the 21-member Lumbee Tribal Council. District seats up for election included 2,3, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12. Charles Bullard in District 5 (Oxendine, Prospect) and Linda Revels in District 11 (Hoke County) were unopposed.
The results of the competitive races are:
— District 2 (Smyrna, Back Swamp, Fairmont): Terry Hunt, with 230 votes, defeated Barbara Hunt, 89 votes, and Terry McNeill, 31 votes.
— District 3 (Lumberton, Clyborn Pines, West Howellsville): Lesaundri “Lee” Hunt, with 226 votes, defeated Carrey Mustoe, 150 votes.
— District 6 (North Pembroke, Raft Swamp): McDuffie Cummings, with 266 votes, defeated incumbent James Deese, 207 votes, and Douglas Locklear, 211 votes.
— District 7 (South Pembroke, Union): Incumbent Terry Campbell, with 430 votes, defeated Eric Locklear, 288 votes.
— District 12 (Alfordsville, Maxton, Scotland County: Walter Lowery, with 138 votes, defeated Autry Lowry Jr., 129 votes, and Luther Strickland, 104 votes.
According to the tribe’s enrollment office, 31,177 of 55,000 tribal members were eligible to cast ballots in Tuesday’s elections. Late Tuesday, however, Ertle Oxendine, a consultant for the tribe’s elections board, said that until today, the actual number of ballots cast will not be available. Not counting provisional ballots, about 4,000 ballots were cast for tribal chairman, putting the turnout at around 13 percent.
Oxendine also said that a number of provisional votes have to be counted, but except for possibly District 12 they will not affect the outcome of the election.
“We may have to recount District 12 because there are 16 or 17 provisional votes and two of the three council candidates are only nine votes apart,” Oxendine said.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at (910) 272-6117 or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com
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