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Swett wins solidly
by Bob Shiles, Staff Writer
8 months ago | 2760 views | 15 15 comments | 26 26 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Newly elected Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett celebrates his victory Tuesday with some of his supporters. | Staff photo by Bob Shiles
Newly elected Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett celebrates his victory Tuesday with some of his supporters. | Staff photo by Bob Shiles
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PEMBROKE — Purnell Swett, a former educator in Robeson County, will become the next chairman of the Lumbee Tribe.

Voters on Tuesday handed the former Robeson County Schools superintendent a solid victory over his two challengers, Hoke County Commissioner Tony Hunt and Tribal Councilman Terry Campbell. Swett will take over the tribe’s leadership position in January from Jimmy Goins, who by tribal law could not seek a third consecutive term.

Unofficial results showed that 6,778 of the tribe’s 31,336 eligible voters — 21.6 percent — cast ballots. Swett won with 3,371 votes, almost 50 percent, Hunt received 2,758, about 41 percent, of the vote, Campbell took 649 votes, about 9 percent.

“Tonight we were very successful,” Swett told a crowd of his supporters gathered at the Southeastern Regional Farmers Market shortly after his victory was assured. “You the people took ownership of my candidacy and made it go.”

Swett said he plans to take a couple of days off to rest before starting to prepare to take over the tribal leadership.

“I don’t get sworn-in until the second Tuesday in January. That gives me time to start making a map to deal with promises I made for the long and short term during the campaign.”

Swett emphasized the need for his administration and the Tribal Council to work well together.

“To be successful we have to have a good relationship,” he said. “That’s the message people were sending me during this campaign. They want a chairman and a council that work together.”

Hunt did not return phone calls from The Robesonian to comment on the election results. Campbell, however, said he was “very proud of the outcome.”

“We couldn’t have a better candidate for chairman than Swett,” he said as he watched the votes tallied at the farmers market. “I’m looking forward to working with the new chairman.”

Campbell, who still has two years remaining on his council term, said that he will seek the chairmanship again.

“I will be back,” he said. “Now people know who I am.”

On Tuesday, voters also elected seven representatives to the 21-member Tribal Council. Eighteen candidates vied for those positions, including five incumbents.

The only incumbent to be defeated was Bradley M. McMillian, the District 10 representative. The winner was newcomer Terry Collins, who pulled in 322, or 61.1 percent of the 527 votes cast. McMillian received 177, or 33.6 percent of the vote, with Leroy “Pete” Butler taking 28, or 5.3 percent of the vote.

In District 9, incumbent James Taft Smith held on to his seat in a four-way race by a single vote. Smith received 155 votes to David Locklear’s 154. Alice Revels received 141, with Annie Gail Brewer mustering 121.

In other district races:

— District 1: Incumbent Audrey Revels Hunt, 247 votes, defeated Mary Richardson, 185 votes, and Patricia Oxendine, 69 votes.

— District 4: Incumbent Helen Locklear was the winner with 171 votes to 71 votes for Patsy Wilkins.

— District 5: Incumbent Kernice Locklear defeated Kenneth Ray Locklear 394 votes to 270

— District 7: Robert Earl Chavis defeated Oceanus Lowry 691 votes to 284.

— District 14: Homer Fields was the winner with 118 votes to 64 votes for Rosemarie Hunt.

Ertle Oxendine, chairman of the Elections Board, said that all of the vote counts are unofficial until certified within the next five days. The board will meet today to count provisional votes in District 9, the one district where Oxendine said provisional votes may make a difference in the outcome. Oxendine said late Tuesday that he did not know the exact number of provisional votes that will have to be counted in all of the races.

The chairman said that there would most likely be a recount in the District 9 race. Candidates need only to muster a simple plurality of the votes cast to win the election. There is no run-off by the rules of the constitution, but if a candidate gets within 1 percent of the votes of the winner, a recount is automatic.

Oxendine said there were no major problems during the election, but that some of the approximate 1,600 absentee ballots received had to be rejected because “signatures failed to match up.”

Vote totals

Chairman

Purnell Swett: 3,371

Tony Hunt: 2,758

Terry Campbell: 649

District 1

(I) Audrey Revels Hunt: 247

Mary Richardson: 185

Patricia Oxendine: 69

District 4

(I) Helen Locklear: 171

Patsy Wilkins: 71

District 5

(I) Kernice Locklear: 394

Kenneth Ray Locklear: 270

District 7

Robert Earl Chavis: 691

Oceanus Lowry: 284

District 9

(I) James Taft Smith: 155

David Locklear: 154

Alice Revels: 141

Annie Gail Brewer: 121

District 10

Terry Collins: 322

(I) Bradley M. McMillian: 177

Leroy Butler: 28



District 14

Homer Fields: 118

Rosemarie Hunt: 64
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comments (15)
« what up wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 02:59 PM »
Amen,

We have too many so called christians around here who do nothing but gossip in the church and talk bad about other people. He who is without sin should cast the first stone.

« Notinvolved wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 01:07 PM »
I am not involved in any of the benifits, nor associated with the tribal council or the lumbee tribe directly. However I have followed the race with interest and read the comments with interest as well. If evryone would put their biases and allegiance aside for a moment and look at the qualifications of the canditates, the choice was simple and the lumbee voters made the right choice. First, the Chairman needs to be able to devote 100 per cent of his working time to the administeration of the tribe. He needs to be fair, have a background in administration of large contracts and staff. He cannot and should not be obligated to anyone except the Lumbee people. If you look at just those qualifications, you will see that Mr. Hunt is a commissioner of Hoke County, which while not full time, does require a good deal of time. He is also a minister. This is an admirable profession and one that should require 100 percent, or at least the majority of his time. Mr. Swett is retired and has a good income from his various pensions. He can devote full time to the efforts to obtain and administer full benifits if full recognition is granted. If not, it would seem to me that the Chairman would have to devote just about as much time to administering the smaller budget to insure equitable treatment of the Lumbee people. Mr. Sweet will NOT have to worry about an income to support himself. It was assured when he retired from his previous employements. Mr. Hunt has supposedly told his church if he were elected Chairman, he would resign. If true, how would he support himself and his wife? That would give rise to questions. I will not make negative remarks about either canditate, and if the people writing the comments I have read are christians, they should not be participating in malicious gossip about either canditate. The majority of voters have spoken. ALL LUMBEES SHOULD GET BEHIND THEIR NEW LEADER AND WORK FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
« TribalPrincess wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 10:09 AM »
Swett was superintendent in 1997 when he paid himself an extra $13,000, according to court records. Swett said he was due the money as a bonus. He resigned and was charged with felony embezzlement and conspiracy, but entered an Alford plea to misprison, a misdemeanor. The justice system treats an Alford plea as a guilty verdict. Swett was given a suspended 45-day sentence and ordered to repay the money.

What will he consider a bonus due to him this time? Is he going to assist our Lumbee People or treat himself? Everyone that did not vote don't be SHOCKED, you didn't speak then so don't speak now. As a Christian, I know I'm suppose to forgive, so I do, yet woe unto those that are crooked. " Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths" Proverbs 2:15

My prayers are with Our Lumbee Tribe and Nation!!! GOD BLESS US
« Shawn Scott wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 09:40 PM »
I agree with Southern Yankee. We Lumbee's are going down in flames with this crook. Mr. Purnell Swett. What a nightmare. People that voted don't know him. They just know he has his name on a school. He is all about his self and his family and buddies. Ya'll will see his true colors. He fit's right in with all the others at LRDA. Politics I hate it.

I predict the future. Several complaints will be filed. Purnell Swett and others will be in Federal court pleaing their case. The Tribe better create a internal affairs division by January. Milton Hunt I hope you keep a eye on this snake in the grass.

Mr. Purnell if your at any Tribal fuction I attend I will turn my back to you.
« anonymous wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 09:30 PM »
US Senator:: We would like to welcome everyone to the US Senate Indian Affairs Committee meeting this morning. My first question goes to the chairman of the Lumbee Tribe Mr. Purnell Swett. Mr. Swett it has come to my attention (courtesy of the Eastern Band of Cherokee) that you plead GUITY to embezzling money from the Public School system when you where the superintendent. Mr. Swett how do you account for your actions AND why should the United States government entrust your tribe with hundreds of millions of dollars based on your past criminal history?

Purnell Swett:: (silence)
« sty112462 wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 08:44 PM »
Thank Goodness the people have elected someone in

District 10 that knows what he is doing. Maybe the tribe has finnaly elected the right man to do the job.
« lumbeelotus wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 07:02 PM »
belleinrobco,

so your brand of logic basically assumes that mr. hunt's so-called 'undesirable' friends/supporters cannot be held accountable for their past actions ("many years ago")? moving on, a septuagenarian would have been in their 60's "10" years ago. quite a mature age for such irresponsible choices don't you think? character development/maintenance illustrations aside, i'm certain that mr. purnell is a good man. but that is really beside the point. the point is he looks bad on paper. (board of governors anyone?) our journalist friends at the N&O, & the really big dogs in washington (BIA, etc.) will eat him for breakfast. and, i'm so tired of us (lumbees) being the punchline. this chairmanship was an unnecessary risk when you consider how close we are to fed recognition @ this juncture. at any rate, those are my final thoughts - i will support our new chairman in 2010.
« PercyKution wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 06:53 PM »
OH HELP US ALL!!!!!!!! Where's 'Ol John-boy Canty? He would have been the PERFECT write-in. At least we all KNOW where he stands (lays) without a doubt.
« RC Citizen wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 05:30 PM »
In My Opinion: We all know that noone is perfect. Everyone voted by choice. There is no reason to be bitter or angry. The election results are final and time will tell if our new chairman of the Lumbee Tribe will honor the promises he made. As a member of the Lumbee Tribe I just want to see our chairman and council work together. God Bless Mr. Purnell Swett as the next chairman of the Lumbee Tribe.

« Ross is Right wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 05:08 PM »
I just want to know what their "job" is. We don't live on a reservation so there can't be any laws passed or new taxes created or anything like that. So what exactly do they do? Go around and listen to all the complaints, greif and lives in dispare and then promise those folks they'll see to it they get a new bathroom or some new vinal sideing on their trailer? Here's a topic for the first meeting... "GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY". Let me 'splain it, give all the money you get from the government back to the tax payers and that means ALL races of tax payers. Everyone (council members,chaiman,etc) volunteer time to the betterment of the people. Explain to members when mom or grandma needs a little help with fixin up their trailer or a ride to town for meds or something, thats the families responsability to do that for them. Afterall there's love among our people,...right?
« johninnc wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 03:50 PM »
yup, I'm waiting for PercyKution to unload, where is he/she? I wish I had his cell to give him a yell. Politics is CORRUPT from the WHITE house down, that's just america. Get over it. I just THANK GOD we do have "some" good people in politics. I could care less who they vote in, I want CHIEF IRON BEAR in next! :-) Keep pulling Harold.........
« hello1983 wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 03:17 PM »
belleinrobco: better believe im holding what he did then against him still. time does not matter. HE STILL DID IT. u say that mr hunt's downfall was friends? look at swett that is what won it for him. his friends that are just corrupt like him. dont put relegion in this either. that is what is wrong with the world now. people fighting over relegion and politics. u going to tell someone that hunt is living "worldly". then what is swett living then? embezzlement is not living by the word.
« NDNprincess wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 02:43 PM »
Can't wait to hear what Mr. Percy Kuition has to say about this!!! LOL
« anonymous wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 10:39 AM »
Southern Yankee I completely disagree. The race basically came down between Mr. Swett and Mr. Hunt. I think the people Mr. Hunt aligned himself with in the community is what put a bad taste in people’s mouths. People are holding something Mr. Swett did many years ago against him today. First, if we were held accountable for things done 10 years ago, when we were a different person, how far would we get today? Second, people voted for the person Mr. Hunt and Mr. Swett are TODAY and how they are living their life TODAY, not years and years ago. Again, Mr. Hunt’s friends were his downfall. All who profess to be a man of the Word are often times a man of the world.

BelleinRobCo
« Southern Yankee wrote on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 09:03 AM »
As usual, we Lumbees has voted the fox right back into the hen house and then when corruption occurs - which it will - we holler "unfair". This is why we will never evolve any more than what we have so far...
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