Staff report

PEMBROKE — The filing period for anyone planning to run for tribal chairman or one of seven seats on the 21-member Lumbee Tribal Council opens Monday and continues through Sept. 14. The election will be held on Nov. 13.

In addition to the chairman, whom is elected by voters in all of the tribe’s 14 districts, district council seats up for election are District 1, Gaddy, Rowland, Orrum, Sterlings, Whitehouse and Thompson, currently held by Audrey Hunt; District 4, Red Springs and Philadelphus, currently held by Helen Locklear; District 5, Oxendine and Prospect, currently held by Kernice Locklear; District 7, South Pembroke and Union, currently held by Robert Chavis; District 9, Saddletree, currently held by James Taft Smith; District 10, Shannon, Rennert and South St. Pauls, currently held by Terry Collins; and District 14, East Howellsville, Wisharts and Britts, currently held by Homer Fields.

Because the Lumbee Tribe’s constitution limits anyone from serving more than two consecutive three-year terms on the council, Audrey Hunt, Helen Locklear, James Taft Smith and Kernice Locklear are ineligible to seek re-election.

Candidates for any of the positions, all of which are for three-year terms, can file at the Lumbee Tribal Housing Complex on N.C. 711 in Pembroke on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Candidates running for tribal chairman must be enrolled tribal members of at least 35 years of age; have maintained their residency in the tribal territory for the past year; and have no felony conviction.

Tribal council candidates must be enrolled tribal members of at least 21 years of age; maintained their principal residence in their district for no less than one year; and have no felony conviction.

The filing fee for tribal chairman is $500, while the fee for those wishing to win a seat on the council is $250.